Dayton Weekly Sports : Kaylah Thornton Leads Fairmont to D-1 Championship Over Princeton; Hits Legendary Shot to Force OT

Kaylah Thornton Leads Fairmont to D-1 Championship Over Princeton

Hits Legendary Game Tying Shot to Force OT

The Fairmont Lady Firebirds won the 2026 girls D-1 championship in front of the home crowd as senior guard Kaylah Thornton put on a show.

Thornton, a Ms. Basketball 2026 finalist, used the OHSAA State Tournament to shine her light and lift the Fairmont Lady Firebirds to a State title.

In the Semifinals, the Firebirds dominated Pickerington Central defensively, which became their calling card all season long. It was the 2nd time they beat Pickerington Central.

Thornton was at the leader of the defense on the court, as the Lady Firebirds held Central to just 33% on the night. She also had 16 points to lead all scorers on the night.

But it wasn't just Thornton that made this Lady Firebirds team go.

Janiyah Hargrave, arguably the best sophomore in Ohio, help lead the way as the "Swiss Army Knife Type" hooper continued to bring what she brings to the table, which is a lot. Hargrave can actually do it all. She can shoot, drive, lead an offense, play great defense, rebound, and has a lot of the intangibles.

Together, that duo was just unstoppable all season.

Add junior guard Peyton Adams, sophomore guard Mailyah Bailey, and seniors Nico Cornett, Chloe Randall, Lena Buskard, and Chloe Von Handorf and now you have a recipe for something special.

In the 4th quarter of the championship, Princeton, lead by one of the best coaches in the State in Dee Davis, took a Fairmont lead, erased it, and took control in the 4th, holding a 6-point lead with less than 3 minutes remaining.

Fairmont had been in control for most of the game, but sophmore star hooper Erin Thomas and junior star guard Kiara Harris got going, and it fueled the Lady Vikings.

In the final minutes coach Jeremy Finn gathered his troops a couple of times. The Lady Firebrids responded and with Hargrave, Cornett, and Thornton delivering clutch shots, getting the Firebirds back in the game down by two with seconds remaining. Cornett was 8-10 from free throw distance on the night.

Fairmont would foul, and Princeton would hit two free throws to go up four by Thomas.

Princeton was up four with 15 seconds left, but Janiyah Hargrave hit a clutch mid-range shot from the baseline to cut it to two.

Princeton had a chance to seal the deal but they made the first shot and missed the 2nd shot, leaving the door open for a chance.

That's where Thornton took the ball, zig-zagged between two defenders, found some space about halfway between the half court and 3-point line, and hoisted a 35-foot shot that looked like it came from the heavens.

Was pure beauty to watch.

Courtesy of OHSAA video

It rattled around and in, and with it, came the biggest shot of her career, and one of the most electrifying moments in OHSAA girls hoops history, as Fairmont tied the game and sent it into overtime.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW

THORNTON BUZZER BEATER

Thornton celebrated emphatically, the players and staff went wild, and so did most of the crowd, knowing they just seen a moment unlike any they had seen before from the senior leader.

And best believe, she has done a lot in her four years.

Courtesy of OHSAA VIDEO

Princeton was in complete shock, and despite going toe to toe in OT for most of it, Thornton hit another back breaking 3-pointer to help seal the deal.

"You have to give it up to Thornton. It was a incredible shot." Coach Davis said after the game.

When asked about how they got to this point, coach Finn talked.

"Our schedule was extremely tough, and these girls responded and answered every challenge. We worked really hard this season, and Thornton has been a great leader this year. She is just a great player and we can't be more proud to have had her with us these last four years."

With the win it gives Fairmont their 4th OHSAA State title, first in 13 years.

Princeton now falls in the 2nd straight championship after winning the title in 2023. They also will be loaded with talent.

But, on the second weekend in March, in 2026, Kaylah Thornton showed why she has the March Madness Magic, (which will be displayed at Akron next year) and why she was the most dominant player in OHSAA girls hoops this season.