All the Shelby girls basketball team needed on Saturday was one more win in Northern Ohio League play to wrap up at least a share of their second consecutive NOL championship.  But that win would have to come at rival Willard on Senior Day and the Flashes were not about to give anybody anything and for 30 minutes out of 32, it looked as though the Flashes would send Shelby and Whippet fans home minus the league title.

Willard controlled the tempo, got 20 points from senior Olivia Bauer, was holding Shelby to one shot on offense, was getting balanced scoring from Bauer, and Hannah Schlomer with 11, Marie Thorton, Laura Danhoff and Hannah Adams all with eight points as Willard's bench outscored Shelby's 12-1 and with 2:29 remaining the Flashes led by ten 57-47 and everything seemed right.  But, just like a Carnival Cruise ship, things started to go wrong.

It started with Emma Hostetler who scored a game high 35 points, hitting a three, then a Willard turnover which led to another Hostetler three, a turnover on the inbounds pass and a bucket by Shelby's Devon Murray, then after a time out and yet another Willard turnover, Shelby would take the lead for good on another three by Hostetler.  When the dust had finally cleared, the Flashes were on the short end of a 17-2 Whippet run to close out the game, the final 64-59 Shelby.

After Hostetler's 35, the Whippets got 11 from Taylor Goth, seven from Taylor Fulton, six from Kailia Collins, three from Murray and one from Brooke Ridenour.  Both Shelby and Bellevue end the regular season at 19-3 overall, 9-1 in the NOL, sharing the girls basketball league title.  The Redmen earned their share by bouncing Sandusky Sauturday, 72-45.  With the loss the Willard girls end their regular season at 13-9, 6-4 in league play.

Willard and Shelby could meet again in the Division II district semifinal at Bucyrus on February 28th if both win sectional championships.  Shelby will play Madison next Saturday at Ontario at 8pm, while the Flashes await the winner of the Kenton/Tiffin Columbian matchup at Fostoria at 6:15 next Saturday.