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Lady Wildcat duo named 1st team All-Ohio

Photo courtesy of Patti Miller Waterford’s Alli Kern, left, Jillian McCutcheon, center, and Megan Ball celebrate after winning a high school girls basketball regional championship last week in Pickerington.

COLUMBUS — It was never a secret that Waterford juniors Alli Kern and Megan Ball were one of the best one-two punches in Mid-Ohio Valley girls basketball.

Now, they’re recognized as one of the best one-two punches in the entire state. Monday, Kern and Ball each were named to The Associated Press Division IV All-Ohio first team. They’ll lead the Lady Wildcats (23-3) into Thursday’s state semifinals against Jackson Center at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Last year, Kern and Ball were instrumental as sophomores in Waterford’s state championship run. They’re a win away from going to their third state final in as many years.

“It’s been a learning experience for them,” said Waterford head coach Jerry Close earlier in the season. “They were role players before and now their roles have changed dramatically. It’s their responsibility to make things go, and that’s a big adjustment.”

No other pair of teammates were named first team All-Ohio in the division. Kern, who was named D-IV Southeast District Player of the Year last week, is averaging 12.4 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game, two assists per game and 3.3 steals per game while shooting 43.3 percent from the field.

Ball leads the team in scoring with 13.5 points per contest. She also is averaging 5.4 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 3.4 assists. She’s making nearly 56 percent of her shot attempts.

Elsewhere in Division IV, Frontier’s Lexi Brookover, Fort Frye’s Makayla Liedtke and Belpre’s Cheyenne Barker were named All-Ohio special mention and Shenandoah’s Taylor Franklin was honorable mention.

Warren’s Katie Rauch and Molly McCutcheon represented the area on the Division II All-Ohio list. Rauch was a special mention pick while McCutcheon was honorable mention.

Morgan was represented by honorable mention pick Danin Greuey.

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