COLUMBUS – Fort Loramie led by as many as nine points in the fourth quarter of the OHSAA Division IV girls basketball state championship game and held off a valiant effort by Regina Hochstetler (Jr.) and Berlin Hiland to claim a 57-42 win and bring home the school’s first girls basketball state title Saturday at Value City Arena in the Jerome Schottenstein Center.

The win marks the first state title for Fort Loramie (27-3) in seven state appearances. The Redskins have made it to the state tournament three of the past four years (2013, 11,10) and brought home runner-up trophies in 2011 and 1997.

The Redskins held the Hawks to no more than 10 points in each of the first three quarters, but Hochstetler and the Hawks cut the lead to three on two different occasions before having to foul. Fort Loramie then sunk 10 free throws in the final two minutes to ice the game. The Redskins were led by junior All-Ohioan Darian Rose, who finished with 19 points, including a perfect 8 of 8 from the free throw line, and five rebounds. Junior Renae Meyer also contributed a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Berlin Hiland (26-4), which finished as the state runner-up for the fourth time in the last five years, was led by Regina Hochstetler’s 23 points and six rebounds. She was the only Hawk to score in double figures. This year marks the 13th time Hiland has made it to the state tournament. They previously claimed four titles (2008, 06, 05 and 00) and are bringing the runner-up trophy for the fifth time (2013, 12, 10, 09 and 89).