The WRA Girls Varsity Basketball team wrapped up a demanding holiday weekend with its first-ever appearance at the Classic in the Country, traveling to Millersburg, Ohio to take on the nation's top-ranked OHSAA Division I program, the Kettering Fairmont Firebirds. Fairmont entered the contest undefeated at 14–0, featuring a roster stacked with Division I talent, including a top-15 player nationally.
WRA came out inspired, but a few early live-ball turnovers allowed the Firebirds to jump out to a 12–4 lead late in the first quarter. The Pioneers responded with back-to-back three-pointers set up by Avery Childress '29, as Emerie Davis '27 and Nina Bilic '28 each found the range. A coast-to-coast floater at the buzzer by Fairmont's Janiyah Hargrave '28 gave the Firebirds a 14–10 edge after one.
Fairmont maintained a single-digit lead through much of the second quarter, stretching the margin to 22–14 before WRA surged. Kobi Marsden '28 buried a three off a Norah Fuld '26 assist, and Fuld followed with a block that sparked a transition and-one from Maliyah Lofton '26. Lofton then drilled another three to cap an 8–0 run in under a minute, tying the game at 22–22. Fairmont regrouped before halftime and carried a 27–23 lead into the break.
The third quarter featured high-level basketball on both ends, with the game tied 31–31 after another Lofton three with five minutes remaining. WRA struggled to convert in the paint and surrendered several second-chance points, allowing Fairmont to build a 42–37 lead late in the quarter. A late foul, bucket, and turnover led to a Firebirds fast-break score, pushing the advantage to 49–39 entering the fourth.
The final period stayed competitive, but the Pioneers were unable to close the gap. Second-chance opportunities and transition baskets proved costly, and Fairmont closed out a 67–52 victory. Despite the result, Maliyah Lofton '26 delivered a standout performance, pouring in a career-high 30 points while shooting 7-for-11 from beyond the arc.
WRA will now enjoy a well-earned break before returning home for a rematch against King's Christian Collegiate (CAN) on Friday, January 23 at 5:00 PM in the MAC Gym. The Pioneers narrowly fell to King's earlier this season and will look to even the series. Go Pioneers!
