2011 State Champions
Division I: Cincinnati LaSalle (26-2)
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Cincinnati LaSalle High School has
had an incredible school year athletically. Five months after
the Lancers football program won a share of just its second Greater
Catholic League title ever, the school’s basketball program won its second Division I state title
Saturday with a convincing 59-40 win over Columbus Northland at Ohio State’s
Schottenstein Center.
LaSalle (26-2) was also Ohio’s D-I state champion in 1996.
The game concluded the coaching career of Northland’s Satch Sullinger who landed his first coaching gig 33 years ago. This was the second D-I Final Four in three years for Northland, which won the 2009 D-I state title. That team was led in part by Satch’s son Jared Sullinger, Ohio’s State’s dominant freshman.
The big story of the game was LaSalle’s defense and Northland’s inability to make shots. The Vikings 40 points was their lowest output of the season and was just the second time they failed to reach 57.
AP Mr. Basketball winner Trey Burke (Michigan) led Northland with 10 points but was 0-of-7 from 3-point range. As a team, Northland hoisted just 36 shots and went to the free throw line just seven times (made four).
Senior Brandon Neel, who had 23 points in Friday’s semifinal win over Toledo Central Catholic, again led the Lancers who shot 45.5-percent from the field (20-of-44) and were 16-of-26 from the foul line. Neel had 22 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and zero turnovers in 31 minutes. Senior Ryan Flemming added 17 points, six boards, four assists and two blocks.
LaSalle out-rebounded Northland 28-20 and held 9-6 and 30-22 advantages, respectively, in second chance points and points in the paint.
*Player of the Game: Brandon Neel (LaSalle) scored 45 points in two tournament games and committed just three turnovers and two fouls in 61 minutes.
*State of the Game: Zero. As in quarters that Northland won. The Vikings were tied 12-12 after one, but were outscored in the next three 16-10, 15-9 and 16-9.
LaSalle (26-2) was also Ohio’s D-I state champion in 1996.
The game concluded the coaching career of Northland’s Satch Sullinger who landed his first coaching gig 33 years ago. This was the second D-I Final Four in three years for Northland, which won the 2009 D-I state title. That team was led in part by Satch’s son Jared Sullinger, Ohio’s State’s dominant freshman.
The big story of the game was LaSalle’s defense and Northland’s inability to make shots. The Vikings 40 points was their lowest output of the season and was just the second time they failed to reach 57.
AP Mr. Basketball winner Trey Burke (Michigan) led Northland with 10 points but was 0-of-7 from 3-point range. As a team, Northland hoisted just 36 shots and went to the free throw line just seven times (made four).
Senior Brandon Neel, who had 23 points in Friday’s semifinal win over Toledo Central Catholic, again led the Lancers who shot 45.5-percent from the field (20-of-44) and were 16-of-26 from the foul line. Neel had 22 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and zero turnovers in 31 minutes. Senior Ryan Flemming added 17 points, six boards, four assists and two blocks.
LaSalle out-rebounded Northland 28-20 and held 9-6 and 30-22 advantages, respectively, in second chance points and points in the paint.
*Player of the Game: Brandon Neel (LaSalle) scored 45 points in two tournament games and committed just three turnovers and two fouls in 61 minutes.
*State of the Game: Zero. As in quarters that Northland won. The Vikings were tied 12-12 after one, but were outscored in the next three 16-10, 15-9 and 16-9.
Division II: Akron St. Vincent St. Mary (19-9)
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Defeated Columbuss Bishop Hartley (22-2) by a score of 49-44
Defeated Dayton Thurgood Marshall (22-6) by a score of 64-50
Akron SVSM used a stingy 2-3 zone defense to hold Dayton Thurgood Marshall to just 31-percent shooting en route to winning its fifth state championship this decade and sixth in theschool history. The 2011 Division II State Championship, which was a 57-46 triumph, moves Akron SVSM to second all-time for boy's basketball state championships.
Both teams started very slow from the field, but SVSM was able to manage a 12-9 lead after the first quarter. The Irish continued to stymie the Cougars in the second quarter with their zone and led 23-18 at halftime. SVSM was able to hold Marshall to just 25-percent (7-of-28) shooting in the first half.
Each team came out of the break scoring easy buckets on the interior and neither team did agood job of stopping penetration. However, the Cougars went dry once again midway through the third period allowing the Irish to grab a 38-28 lead after three quarters.
SVSM extended its lead to 16 in the final frame thanks to some easy buckets from junior Lorenzo Cugini, freshman Victor Dorsey, sophomore Nick Wells and senior Davonte' Beard.
The Irish defense was good enough in the fourth to hold the lead and seal the win.
Beard had 13 points and four assists for the victors and junior DJ Blanks added nine points and five rebounds off the bench. Wells chipped in six points and five boards off the pine as well. Senior Ricky Johnson put in four points and four rebounds along with six assists.
Jordan Watson returned to the line up for the Cougars following a semifinal game suspension and scored 16 points on just 7-of-22 shooting inlcuding 0-of-10 from 3-point distance. Watsonadded six rebounds.
Sophomore Mark Alstork and Edmond Early Jr. each scored eight points and Alstork snared six rebounds.
*Player of the Game: Lorenzo Cugini (Akron SVSM) tallied 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds.
*Stat of the Game: Thurgood Marshall was a dismal 1-of-19 from the three-point range.
Defeated Dayton Thurgood Marshall (22-6) by a score of 64-50
Akron SVSM used a stingy 2-3 zone defense to hold Dayton Thurgood Marshall to just 31-percent shooting en route to winning its fifth state championship this decade and sixth in theschool history. The 2011 Division II State Championship, which was a 57-46 triumph, moves Akron SVSM to second all-time for boy's basketball state championships.
Both teams started very slow from the field, but SVSM was able to manage a 12-9 lead after the first quarter. The Irish continued to stymie the Cougars in the second quarter with their zone and led 23-18 at halftime. SVSM was able to hold Marshall to just 25-percent (7-of-28) shooting in the first half.
Each team came out of the break scoring easy buckets on the interior and neither team did agood job of stopping penetration. However, the Cougars went dry once again midway through the third period allowing the Irish to grab a 38-28 lead after three quarters.
SVSM extended its lead to 16 in the final frame thanks to some easy buckets from junior Lorenzo Cugini, freshman Victor Dorsey, sophomore Nick Wells and senior Davonte' Beard.
The Irish defense was good enough in the fourth to hold the lead and seal the win.
Beard had 13 points and four assists for the victors and junior DJ Blanks added nine points and five rebounds off the bench. Wells chipped in six points and five boards off the pine as well. Senior Ricky Johnson put in four points and four rebounds along with six assists.
Jordan Watson returned to the line up for the Cougars following a semifinal game suspension and scored 16 points on just 7-of-22 shooting inlcuding 0-of-10 from 3-point distance. Watsonadded six rebounds.
Sophomore Mark Alstork and Edmond Early Jr. each scored eight points and Alstork snared six rebounds.
*Player of the Game: Lorenzo Cugini (Akron SVSM) tallied 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds.
*Stat of the Game: Thurgood Marshall was a dismal 1-of-19 from the three-point range.
Division III: Cincinnati Taft (25-1)
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Defeated Columbus Africentric (18-8) by a score of 63-50
Defeated Cleveland Central Catholic (19-9) by a score of 95-52
Saturday’s highly-anticipated match-up between Cincinnati Taft and Cleveland Central Catholic in the Division III state final never materialized. Taft dominated from start to finish. The Senators 95-52 win inside Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center ties for the biggest margin of victory ever in state tournament history. Mariemont won the Class B title in 1953 by 43 points over Philo (87-44) as well.
The state championship is the first for any Taft program and it’s the first boys basketball state title by a Cincinnati Public School since 1988 (Woodward won D-I). Taft’s title was the first for any Cincinnati school since 2007.
The Senators (26-1) trailed 2-0 but then scored 74 of the games next 97 points to lead74-25 after three quarters.
Junior standout Adolphus Washington led the Senators with another monster game. After scoring 22 in Taft’s semifinal victory over Columbus Africentric, Washington scored a team-high 18 and pulled down eight rebounds. Jalen and Chris Lowe added 15 and 12 points, respectively. Eleven players scored for Taft, which shot 54-percent from the floor (38-of-70). The Senators were 13-of-22 (59-percent) from 3s.
CCC (19-9) hit 16-of-50 shots from the floor but was a miserable 1-of-17 from 3-point range. Super senior Anton Grady (Cleveland State) had another double-double with 22 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks. In CCC’s semifinal win over Portsmouth, Grady had 26 points and tied an all-divisions state tournament record with 22 rebounds.
Taft outscored CCC 40-24 in the paint and 23-10 off turnovers.
*Player of the Game: Adolphus Washington (Taft) will be a Division I football player, but he stated his case this weekend as a standout hoops player. Washington had 40 points and 12 rebounds in two games.
*State of the Game: Taft’s bench outscored CCC’s 46-7.
Defeated Cleveland Central Catholic (19-9) by a score of 95-52
Saturday’s highly-anticipated match-up between Cincinnati Taft and Cleveland Central Catholic in the Division III state final never materialized. Taft dominated from start to finish. The Senators 95-52 win inside Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center ties for the biggest margin of victory ever in state tournament history. Mariemont won the Class B title in 1953 by 43 points over Philo (87-44) as well.
The state championship is the first for any Taft program and it’s the first boys basketball state title by a Cincinnati Public School since 1988 (Woodward won D-I). Taft’s title was the first for any Cincinnati school since 2007.
The Senators (26-1) trailed 2-0 but then scored 74 of the games next 97 points to lead74-25 after three quarters.
Junior standout Adolphus Washington led the Senators with another monster game. After scoring 22 in Taft’s semifinal victory over Columbus Africentric, Washington scored a team-high 18 and pulled down eight rebounds. Jalen and Chris Lowe added 15 and 12 points, respectively. Eleven players scored for Taft, which shot 54-percent from the floor (38-of-70). The Senators were 13-of-22 (59-percent) from 3s.
CCC (19-9) hit 16-of-50 shots from the floor but was a miserable 1-of-17 from 3-point range. Super senior Anton Grady (Cleveland State) had another double-double with 22 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks. In CCC’s semifinal win over Portsmouth, Grady had 26 points and tied an all-divisions state tournament record with 22 rebounds.
Taft outscored CCC 40-24 in the paint and 23-10 off turnovers.
*Player of the Game: Adolphus Washington (Taft) will be a Division I football player, but he stated his case this weekend as a standout hoops player. Washington had 40 points and 12 rebounds in two games.
*State of the Game: Taft’s bench outscored CCC’s 46-7.
Division IV: Berlin Highland (27-1)
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Defeated Continental (21-4) by a score of 70-56
Defeated Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (22-6) by a score of 63-48
The Berlin Hiland Hawks once again used their superior size to overpower a worthy opponent and this time it was Harvest Prep in the Division IV State Championship Saturday at Ohio State's Schottenstein Center. The Hawks outscored the Warriors 26-11 in the fourth quarter to run away with a 63-48 victory thanks in large part to junior Seger Bonifant.
The 6-foot-7 Bonifant again came off the bench and proved he was the most dominant player on the floor. The Strasburg-Franklin transfer went to work in the paint in the final eight minutes scoring over his left shoulder on several jump hooks demoralizing the smaller Prepdefenders.
Hiland led by one after one (8-7), but fell behind at halftime as the Warriors were getting several easy buckets in the lane in the second quarter.
Trailing 22-20 heading into the third quarter, the Hawks were able to tie the game at 37 by the quarter's close. Harvest Prep's Grant Harris knocked down a long range bomb from the left wing to bring the Warriors even at 37.
In the fourth quarter, it was the Bonifant show. Hiland was able to run a version of the Princeton offense to perfection and it allowed them several easy inside buckets.
Following a Shakir Dunning 3-poiner that made it 47-44, Hiland would score 16 of the next 20 points.
Lost in the Bonifant and Dylan Kaufman hype was the ultimate x-factor Jalen Miller. The 6-2 senior scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. The lefty scored several buckets near the rim with his left hand and played solid defense all weekend.
Kaufman tallied 19 points on just 5-of-18 shooting, but managed to go 8-of-8 at the free throw line and grab eight boards. 6-7 senior Noah Boyd added eight points and chased down six strays.
Harvest Prep got 17 points from Dunning, a hard working senior. Junior Grant Harris chipped in 14.
Hiland was a perfect 10-of-10 from the charity stripe.
*Player of the Game: Seger Bonifant (Berlin Hiland) had 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting andseven rebounds.
*Stat of the Game: Hiland scored 23 points off turnovers compared to just seven by the Prep, which is certainly a role reversal for the Warriors.
Defeated Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (22-6) by a score of 63-48
The Berlin Hiland Hawks once again used their superior size to overpower a worthy opponent and this time it was Harvest Prep in the Division IV State Championship Saturday at Ohio State's Schottenstein Center. The Hawks outscored the Warriors 26-11 in the fourth quarter to run away with a 63-48 victory thanks in large part to junior Seger Bonifant.
The 6-foot-7 Bonifant again came off the bench and proved he was the most dominant player on the floor. The Strasburg-Franklin transfer went to work in the paint in the final eight minutes scoring over his left shoulder on several jump hooks demoralizing the smaller Prepdefenders.
Hiland led by one after one (8-7), but fell behind at halftime as the Warriors were getting several easy buckets in the lane in the second quarter.
Trailing 22-20 heading into the third quarter, the Hawks were able to tie the game at 37 by the quarter's close. Harvest Prep's Grant Harris knocked down a long range bomb from the left wing to bring the Warriors even at 37.
In the fourth quarter, it was the Bonifant show. Hiland was able to run a version of the Princeton offense to perfection and it allowed them several easy inside buckets.
Following a Shakir Dunning 3-poiner that made it 47-44, Hiland would score 16 of the next 20 points.
Lost in the Bonifant and Dylan Kaufman hype was the ultimate x-factor Jalen Miller. The 6-2 senior scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. The lefty scored several buckets near the rim with his left hand and played solid defense all weekend.
Kaufman tallied 19 points on just 5-of-18 shooting, but managed to go 8-of-8 at the free throw line and grab eight boards. 6-7 senior Noah Boyd added eight points and chased down six strays.
Harvest Prep got 17 points from Dunning, a hard working senior. Junior Grant Harris chipped in 14.
Hiland was a perfect 10-of-10 from the charity stripe.
*Player of the Game: Seger Bonifant (Berlin Hiland) had 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting andseven rebounds.
*Stat of the Game: Hiland scored 23 points off turnovers compared to just seven by the Prep, which is certainly a role reversal for the Warriors.