ROOTSTOWN, Ohio — The Rootstown girls' basketball team is hoping for a storybook end to an already historic season. 

What You Need To Know

  • Rootstown is the first girls' basketball team from Portage County to reach the state championship game

  • Rootstown is trying to win its first state championship in any sport in school history 

  • The Rovers play Columbus Grove in the Division VI championship on Saturday at 2:15 p.m.

The Rovers are looking to win the first girls’ basketball state championship in Portage County History and the first state title in any sport for Rootstown. 

“I can’t even wrap my arms around what that means. It’d be special, no doubt about it,” said Rootstown Head Coach Joe Leonard. 

Leading the way for the Rovers is the senior class who say they can’t imagine a better setting for the last game of their careers.

“Really going as far as we can to end our senior year. It’s a feeling I’ve never had before,” said senior Addy Germann. 

“Not many people can say no matter what this is my last game,” Senior Nadia Lough said. “Just to even get that far and hold a name for the school, a name for the community, and a name for everybody around us.”

Leonard said it’s no surprise these seniors have accomplished all the historic feats this season because of their hard work. 

“On and off the court, this group of four has accomplished so much,” he said. “They really work hard. There’s no real secret success to why they’re where they’re at.”

Rootstown enters Saturday’s state championship game vs. Columbus Grove at 28-1 and on a 17-game win streak. While the team has put in countless hours in the gym, they agree they wouldn’t have made it to Dayton without the support of the community. 

“It’s so special for us to see them come out and support us,” Senior Kelsey Bittecuffer said. “It’s just something that’s really important to me and the rest of us.”

“When I was growing up, I always looked up to the older girls,” said senior Sasha Nichols. “Knowing that we’re older now and seeing the little girls support us and coming to our games, the Rootstown community is really so involved this year and it’s truly amazing to see them.” 

For the Rovers to cut down the nets and bring home a state championship, Leonard knows they need to stick to their “No Heart, No Chance” mantra.

“You’ve got to have heart. If you don’t have heart, you really don’t have a chance,” he said. “Luckily for me and for the team, we have a lot of heart and definitely have a chance.” 

Rootstown will face off with Columbus Grove in the OHSAA Division VI state championship on Saturday at 2:15 p.m.

You can watch the game live on Spectrum News 1.