By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
sports@thevillagereporter.com
MANSFIELD (March 4, 2026) – The task at hand for Delta was a large one as it faced state power Columbus Africentric in the Division V regional semifinals.
The Panthers stayed within eight points at halftime before the Nubians used an 11-1 run in the third quarter to pull away for a 51-32 win.
Both teams were cold shooting the ball in the opening eight minutes, but Africentric All-Ohio selection Jeniya Bowers drained triples to start and end the quarter for a 9-4 Africentric lead.
Africentric scored the first seven points of the second stanza as Jae’Veyonna Brown had two buckets and Bowers added a conventional three-point play to stretch the lead to 16-4.
A layup by Delta’s Anna Lohman stopped the run and another score by Lohman on a drive to the bucket later in the frame made it 20-10.
The Panthers sliced into the deficit a bit more before halftime as Abbey Todd was 1-for-2 at the line and Lohman added a step back trey to cut the Africentric lead to 22-14 at halftime.
The Nubians would take control with an 11-1 run to open the third quarter. Bowers and Brown combined for all 11 points ending with a Bowers three-ball after a Nubians offensive rebound to push the lead to 36-15 about halfway through the quarter.
Delta battled back with an 11-5 surge to end the quarter. Delta hit 4-for-4 at the charity stripe during the run and Grace Maynhart buried a long ball from the right corner to cut the Africentric lead to 41-26 after three quarters.
Keagyn Gillen’s free throw for Delta would make it a 14-point spread early in the fourth, but that would be as close as Delta would get.
Bowers and Brown collaborated for the next eight points, culminating with a bucket by Brown for a 49-31 advantage.
Bowers and Brown accounted for 41 of the 51 Africentric (22-4) points as Bowers led all scorers with 24 and Brown added 17.
The Panthers (21-5) were hindered by a frigid night from the floor. Delta was 10-for-40 for 25 percent shooting, including going 2-for-18 for 11 percent from three-point range.
Lohman topped Delta in scoring with five two-pointers, a triple, and a free throw for 14.
DELTA (32) – Maynhart 3; Lohman 14; Todd 1; Kruger 0; Martinez 2; A. Gillen 1; Mohring 4; Wyse 0; K. Gillen 7; Siewertsen 0; Hilyard 0; Rosene 0; Totals: 8-2-10 – 32
AFRICENTRIC (51) – White 2; Harris 0; Bowers 24; Brown 17; Broady 2; Robinson 0; Johnson 0; Thomas 6; Gatson 0; Elder 0; Zeno 0; Totals: 16-4-7 – 51
DHS 4 10 12 6 – 32
CAHS 9 13 19 10 – 51
For more local news, see High School Sports Schedule For Thursday, March 26, 2026 (WEATHER PERMITTING).