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Canton McKinley tops Toledo Waite 49-47 for title

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The Associated Press Updated 11:31 PM Saturday, March 20, 2010

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Canton McKinley coach Pamela Davis felt confident that her team was going to win its first state title — even when the game wasn't decided as the clock struck zero.

Everyone watched as Toledo Waite's Shanice McNeal stood alone at the foul line for a pair of free throws and her team trailing by two. McNeal missed the first attempt, and the Canton McKinley claimed a 49-47 victory in the Division I final on Saturday.

"We have a lot of composure," Davis said. "Even when we were behind we didn't panic."

Laneisha Lennon hit the go-ahead free throw with 18.1 seconds left and Ameryst Alston made a free throw for a two-point lead with 6.6 seconds to go.

"I had to hit it. I couldn't’' let my teammates down," Alston said.

Waite (24-2) brought the ball up court and had a final chance off an inbound pass with 0.9 seconds to play. McNeal received the ball and was fouled by Lennon with no time showing.

"We thought they would go to No. 40 (McNeal) and they did," Davis said. "We thought they would go for the lob and they did. I didn't have a great angle but thought it was a jump ball or block. That was a lot of pressure on the young lady."

McNeal was by herself as the teams gathered near their benches. Her shot hit the rim and bounced away, and she crumbled to the court in tears.

"I feel real bad for the kid," Waite coach Manny May said, "but if it had to be somebody I'd rather it be her. She's a junior. She came can come back and learn from that."

Alston had 22 points and Sydnee Penn 15 for McKinley (25-3).

Natasha Howard had 23 points, 14 rebounds, eight steals and four blocks in a losing effort before fouling out with 6.6 seconds left.

"She came to play," May said. "She challenged her teammates to play with her."

With the score tied at 47 and under a minute to play, Howard got a steal with the pressure help from teammate Brooke Hunt but Howard missed a shot, as did McNeal on the follow.

Howard fouled Lennon going for the rebound to set up the winning foul shot by Lennon. Howard's fifth foul came when teammate Brooke Hunt missed a jumper following Lennon's miss of the second free throw.

It was Howard, the 2010 Associated Press Ms. Basketball, who rallied Waite from 10 down in the fourth quarter with several steals off a high pressure defense that had the 6-foot-3 forward hawking the ball out to midcourt.

Yet, it wasn't enough.

"It means everything to me," Alston said of the championship. "Words can't describe it."

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March 21, 2010 03:29 AM EDT

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