DAYTON, Ohio — Kamryn Grant had 22 points and 11 rebounds as four different scorers reached double figures to help Columbus Africentric beat LaGrange Keystone 62-35 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division IV girls’ basketball state semifinal at UD Arena on Thursday.

Columbus Africentric Early College (27-2) will make its 11th appearance in the state title game since 2007. It ties the Nubians with Hiland High School for most state championship game appearances in OHSAA history.

“Every day we’re preaching it. Every day we’re drilling it that my girls know the expectation,” Columbus Africentric head coach Janicia Anderson said. “They know the standard. We’re repping that every single day in practice so that we can come out and execute it just as they did. So again, I’m just very proud that they were able to execute it. It shows again how coachable they are and how much they want it.”

Grant scored 10 points and Columbus Africentric forced nine turnovers in the first half. She helped set the tone in the state semifinal game — something she missed during the Nubians’ title run a year ago due to a torn right ACL.

Grant then piled on 12 points in a 24-point Nubian third quarter. Columbus Africentric shot a game-best 64.7% in the third.

“It almost felt easy, but I’m not going to say easy,” Grant said. “It felt good to be out there in the bright lights, you know? I haven’t been on the court like that in a while, so overall it just felt really good.”

Members of LaGrange Keystone High School’s girls basketball team wait for tip-off on the team bench during the OHSAA Girls State Tournament semifinal at UD Arena on Thursday.. (Spectrum News 1/Jacob Benge)

Jeniya Bowers added 11 points while Natiah Nelson and Samairah Thompson each tallied 10.

LaGrange Keystone (28-1) suffered its first loss of the season and first since Feb. 22, 2023. The Lady Wildcats were held to a combined 13 points across the second and third quarters.

Jessica Forthofer led the Lady Wildcats with 18 points.

Columbus Africentric High School cheerleaders rally the crowd during the OHSAA Girls State Tournament semifinal at UD Arena on Thursday. (Spectrum News 1/Jacob Benge)

“Our goal was to do everything we could to box out and then go get the ball after you box out,” LaGrange Keystone head coach Rocky Houston said. “But you know, they got some really good athletes that are a little taller than what we are, obviously, and there were more than a few times where they were able to still go up and get the basketball and get some put backs, but the girls competed.”

The Nubians will go on and defend their state championship from last year against the winner of Ottawa-Glandorf and Portsmouth in the Division III final at 2 p.m. on Saturday.