DAYTON, Ohio — The Winton Woods girls basketball team is a state champion for the first time in program history.
Winton Woods defeated Whitehouse Anthony Wayne 70-55 Friday night in a Division II state final at the University of Dayton Arena. The announced attendance was 3,334.
Winton Woods (27-0) completes its season as the only undefeated team in Ohio.
“For our girls to experience this — it’s just a great feeling,” Winton Woods coach Carlton Gray said. “We got one in football a couple years ago. I’m on cloud nine right now.”
Friday was the first state tournament appearance for the Winton Woods girls basketball program. Winton Woods is ranked No. 1 in the MaxPreps Ohio girls basketball rankings (regardless of division).
“Winton Woods is always known as a football school,” said Gray, who is the football team’s defensive coordinator. “It’s always known as boys basketball. We’ve had a few elite basketball players so it’s very great for me to see some girls get attention like that. I’m a girl dad, and these kids are like my own kids, so to see them get that kind of attention — we fight for it. We fight to be relevant. We fight to be heard.”
Freshman Strawberry Blankumsee scored a game-high 28 points to go along with three rebounds, three steals and an assist to help lift Winton Woods.
“That’s what she is,” Gray said. “That’s what people know about her. That’s what we’ve always known. We’re such a balanced team that it doesn’t always stand out. But, she’s truly a special kid with so much more upside. I’m just hoping I can do everything I can to get the most out of her.”
Senior Daniah Trammell scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds along with three steals in her final high school basketball game.
“When the clock hit zero a lot of things were going through my head,” Trammell said. “If you would’ve told me I would be in my senior season 27-0 and a state champion — I would be like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ Props to my teammates for sticking with it. I’m just proud for my teammates, especially (Strawberry) for stepping up and taking a big role in this win.”
Junior guard Whitley Davis had 11 points and three steals. Senior guard Niyala Harmon added 10 points.
Anthony Wayne made its second state tournament appearance and its first trip since 2022. Anthony Wayne, ranked No. 5 in the MaxPreps Ohio rankings, completed its season with a 24-3 record.
Anthony Wayne was led by senior Elise Bender who had 26 points and 13 rebounds. Senior Brooke Bender had 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Friday night was the second state title within the Winton Woods high school community.
Forest Park and Greenhills merged in the early 1990s to form Winton Woods. Forest Park won the 1984 Class AAA girls basketball state championship with a 28-0 record.
"Just to see all of that support out there (in the arena) pay off today - it's indescribable right now," Gray said.
Winton Woods is the second Greater Cincinnati girls basketball team to win a state championship in Dayton on Friday. Purcell Marian won the Division III state title — its fourth consecutive state championship.
Princeton (21-6) plays Pickerington Central (24-3) in the Division I state final at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Princeton is seeking its fourth girls basketball state championship in program history.
