Girls basketball: Fairmont wins D-I state title; Thornton’s shot saves season

Fairmont is attempting to win the second state title in program history and complete its first-ever perfect season. Princeton is seeking its second championship since 2023 and its fourth overall.

Check back for video, photos and more coverage from Saturday’s game after postgame ceremonies take place.

OVERTIME

Fairmont wins the Division I state championship 61-55 over Princeton.

Princeton stuck first in the extra period with two free throws before Janiyah Hargrave’s layup tied the score again. Hargrave drilled a three from the top of arc with 2:00 left to put Fairmont ahead.

Hargrave hit two more free throws to give Fairmont a four-point lead and the Firebirds forced a 5-second inbound violation with 43 seconds left.

Princeton’s final chances from three all hit off the rim and Nico Cornett hit two more free throws at the other end to seal the victory.

Fairmont goes 28-0 overall and wins its second state championship in program history.

Janiyah Hargrave scores 23 points to lead Fairmont. Thornton had 19, including the tying three that will go down in Fairmont lore, and Cornett added 13 while going 8-for-10 at the foul line.

FOURTH QUARTER

Put four minutes on the clock. Kaylah Thornton hits a buzzer beating three to send the game to overtime tied at 50.

Fairmont’s struggles from the free throw that plagued them in the semifinals showed up again early in the fourth. Erin Thomas tied the game at 35 with 4:23 to play with a pair of free throws and Simone Smith hit a three from the corner to put Princeton in front 20 seconds later.

Princeton built its lead to seven with 3:17 left. Fairmont finally made its first field goal when Peyton Adams scored underneath the basket to bring Fairmont back within two with 2:24 left.

Kiara Harris hit two free throws with 36 seconds left to push Princeton’s lead back to four. Peyton Adams hit another layup to pull back within two 13 seconds later.

Thomas with 14.8 remaining hit two more from the line and Hargrave got Fairmont down to two again with 5.9 left.

Heaven Sneed was fouled before the ensuing inbounds pass and one of two shots leading to Thornton’s tying three.

THIRD QUARTER

The state championship is up for grabs with eight minutes remaining Fairmont’s lead is down 34-31 going to the fourth.

A fast start to the period saw Janiyah Hargrave and Nico Cornett score on uncontested layups to quickly build Fairmont’s lead back to double digits.

Fairmont kept Princeton off the scoreboard for nearly four minutes before Erin Thomas made a layup while being fouled. Kiara Harris got another to pull back within three with 2:40 left in the quarter, and Thomas got their deficit to one before Lena Buskard scored in the final minute.

Credit: Bryant Billing

Credit: Bryant Billing

SECOND QUARTER

Fairmont is one half away from completing its undefeated season, leading Princeton 25-19.

The Vikings did close the period on a 10-4 run capped by an Erin Thomas three. Princeton was efficient in the period and kept Fairmont from scoring off of turnovers in transition.

Fairmont had an offensive lull for the early minutes of the second quarter that allowed Princeton to pull back within eight. The Firebirds came out of a timeout with two consecutive possessions attacking the basket to get on track, but Princeton continuing hitting shots.

Thornton has 14 points for Fairmont. Kiara Harris leads Princeton with eight.

Credit: Bryant Billing

Credit: Bryant Billing

FIRST QUARTER

Fairmont completely controls the opening eight minutes and leads 18-7.

Nico Cornett got the first steal of the night three seconds in to the game, but Princeton struck first with a layup a little more than a minute in.

Fairmont’s immediately grabbed the lead after on Janiyah Hargrave’s three from above the key. Kaylah Thornton followed with two consecutive from the college line.

Thornton has 11 points already. The Firebirds have four team assists on its six made field goals.