SUGAR GROVE, Ohio -- In dominating fashion, the Berne Union Rockets won their second consecutive Division IV district championship with a 59-28 win over Danville. 

Both teams touted an average margin of victory of 55 points in the tournament headed into Friday’s district final. By those standards, the first quarter was a bit slow until the 2:43 mark. The Rockets held just a two point lead (8-6) when they exploded offensively. Six different Rockets scored in the quarter helping them end on a 9-0 run and then they never looked back. 

Berne Union turned up their defensive to start the second, using their length and ball pressure to cause turnovers and push the ball in transition. Sophomore Sophia Kline was excellent in the quarter, finishing well at the rim and scoring eight points. Senior Faith Harmon was a great spark off the bench, scoring five. 

Danville was held to two points in the quarter, a basket by Junior Brooklynn Hess. Despite being heavily pressured the entire night, Hess played well for the Blue Devils. The Rockets went into halftime with a comfortable 33-8 lead. 

Berne Union’s half court pressure was too much for Danville to handle to start the second half. The Rockets started to run away with the game thanks to tough guard play by seniors Emily Blevins and Bella Kline, totaling 12 points. Danville scored 12 in the quarter, their highest of the game, but was still outscored 18-12.

With the clock running, the fourth was a low scoring quarter for both teams. Berne Union out paced Danville 8-6 over the final frame leading to their 59-28 win. 

Berne Union was led in scoring by their dynamic trio: Sophia Kline with 16, Bella Kline with 13 and Emily Blevins with 11. Brooklynn Hess tallied 9 for the Blue Devils in the loss. 

The Rockets move on to the regional semifinal to face the winner of Peebles and Trimble on Thurs., March 4 at 8:00 pm at Pickerington North High School.