Beloit, OH -- The rivalry between West Branch and Salem is anything but unfamiliar at this point. For the second straight season, the Quakers found themselves in the Lady Warriors' district bracket. This year, Salem entered as the No. 21 seed, hoping it would finally be the opportunity to pull off an upset against a well-coached and battle-tested West Branch squad.

Whether it was confidence or belief, Salem once again stepped into the postseason matchup aiming to take down one of the area's top programs. West Branch continued its postseason success over rival Salem on Tuesday night, earning a 28–19 victory in the district semifinal to advance to the district championship game. The win also marked a historic milestone for Head Coach Walt DeShields, who secured his 400th career victory in the process.

First Half
Offense was at a premium early, as sloppy play on both ends of the floor limited scoring opportunities throughout the first half. West Branch managed to build a 7–0 lead after the opening quarter, but Salem responded with a 7–0 run of its own to even the score at 7–7. The Lady Warriors regrouped late in the second quarter, closing the half on a strong note to take a 13–8 advantage into the break. The Lady Warriors left some points at the line that could have made the lead even larger.

Second Half

It was exactly the type of game Salem Head Coach Mowery hoped for — a low-scoring, physical battle that kept things within reach into the second half. The Quakers threatened multiple times after the break, but each time Salem made a push, West Branch responded with timely stops and poised execution to maintain control.

Clutch free throws from freshman Madi Hoopes in the closing minutes helped seal the victory, as the Lady Warriors secured the 28–19 win and advanced to the district championship game.

Scoring Summary

• Madi Hoopes – 10 points

• Hallie Vie Burton – 6 points

• Audrey Eaton – 5 points

• Sammi Beatty – 3 points

• Alli Kanagy – 2 points

• Tallie Muniz – 2 points

What's Next: West Branch advances to the district championship Saturday at 4 p.m. at Lordstown High School against No. 9 seed Streetsboro. The Lady Warriors will be looking for their first district title since 2021.