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Sometimes the script doesn’t play out the way it was written, and such was the case for Upper Arlington on Saturday inside an electric Value City Arena on the campus of the Ohio State University.
Upper Arlington’s dream run was supposed to end with the Black and Gold hoisting the gold trophy in front of its overflowing and energetic crowd. The script looked as if it were going to hold true as the Golden Bears held a, 52-49, advantage with 4.7 seconds remaining, but mighty Lakewood St. Edward had other ideas.
Senior Marsalis Hamilton flipped the script when he took a handoff from sophomore Derek Funderburk, and proceeded to elevate over several hands draining a nearly impossible three-pointer from the right wing as time expired to send the game to overtime.
For much of the night it appeared UA was going to find a way to win the game answering every punch the talented Eagles threw at it, but Hamilton’s haymaker was a heavy blow that the Golden Bears weren’t able to overcome.
The Eagles (26-2) converted some clutch free throws thanks to junior Kipper Nichols, Funderburk, and senior Malcolm Walters, which never allowed the Golden Bears to overcome a four-point deficit in the extra session giving Ed’s a dramatic and classic, 62-60, triumph of Upper Arlington. The Eagles got a couple key stops as a pair of Kevin Vannatta triples rimmed out, and Ed’s was able to gather the rebounds.
UA’s Logan Richter cashed in a triple from the right wing as the 3rd quarter expired giving the Golden Bears a, 40-37, heading into the final period. Moments later, the game was tied at 42, UA responded yet again with the next six points sending the Black and Gold faithful into an eruption with 2:56 showing on the clock. What is more, the Bears owned the possession, and with their signature triangle late-game offense set to close out game, it appeared a tall mountain to climb for the Eagles.
The Eagles were up for the test, which set up Hamilton’s shot heard around the Schott.’
Upper Arlington (27-2) raced out to a, 9-0, lead before Hamilton scored on a drive-in basket to stop the run. Hamilton and Nichols would go to work on offense, and help the Eagles draw within a point by the end of the opening quarter, 11-10. Nichols followed with a pair of jumpers and a drive-in basket to give Ed’s a, 16-14, advantage. The Bears would battle back and eventually grab a two-point lead, 22-20, at the half.
Michael McGovern paced the Bears with six points, and Vannatta and senior Danny Hummer each tallied five points in the opening half. Nichols scored 12 of his team’s 20 points in the half. Hamilton added six.
Nichols, who will see his stock soar after the weekend, didn’t slow down in the 2nd half. The 6-foot-6 junior scored a game-high 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting, and chipped in five rebounds. Hamilton, an unsigned signed, followed with 11 points and three dimes. Funderburk, who is coming off a broken foot, came up huge off the bench with two powerful inside moves and a 5-of-5 showing at the line for nine points.
Senior Tony Vuyancih and Walters notched seven and six points respectively.
Vannatta, a UNC Asheville signee and a kid that enjoyed a sensational tournament, closed out his high school career with 15 points, but on just 6-of-16 shooting, which was a rarity. Hummer, who handled the Eagles’ pressure all night, paced the Bears with 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting. He was also a clutch 6-of-6 from the free throw stripe.
Senior Wes Davis and Richter each totaled eight points, and Richter chipped in a team-high five rebounds. McGovern finished with six counters.
Both teams were sizzling hot from the field with Ed’s shooting 61.5 percent and UA shooting nearly 59 percent for the game. The Eagles finished 10-of-14 at the foul line, and the Bears were 11-of-13.
The two teams combined for just 20 turnovers.
With the win, the Eagles halted UA’s 26-game winning streak.
Upper Arlington’s dream run was supposed to end with the Black and Gold hoisting the gold trophy in front of its overflowing and energetic crowd. The script looked as if it were going to hold true as the Golden Bears held a, 52-49, advantage with 4.7 seconds remaining, but mighty Lakewood St. Edward had other ideas.
Senior Marsalis Hamilton flipped the script when he took a handoff from sophomore Derek Funderburk, and proceeded to elevate over several hands draining a nearly impossible three-pointer from the right wing as time expired to send the game to overtime.
For much of the night it appeared UA was going to find a way to win the game answering every punch the talented Eagles threw at it, but Hamilton’s haymaker was a heavy blow that the Golden Bears weren’t able to overcome.
The Eagles (26-2) converted some clutch free throws thanks to junior Kipper Nichols, Funderburk, and senior Malcolm Walters, which never allowed the Golden Bears to overcome a four-point deficit in the extra session giving Ed’s a dramatic and classic, 62-60, triumph of Upper Arlington. The Eagles got a couple key stops as a pair of Kevin Vannatta triples rimmed out, and Ed’s was able to gather the rebounds.
UA’s Logan Richter cashed in a triple from the right wing as the 3rd quarter expired giving the Golden Bears a, 40-37, heading into the final period. Moments later, the game was tied at 42, UA responded yet again with the next six points sending the Black and Gold faithful into an eruption with 2:56 showing on the clock. What is more, the Bears owned the possession, and with their signature triangle late-game offense set to close out game, it appeared a tall mountain to climb for the Eagles.
The Eagles were up for the test, which set up Hamilton’s shot heard around the Schott.’
Upper Arlington (27-2) raced out to a, 9-0, lead before Hamilton scored on a drive-in basket to stop the run. Hamilton and Nichols would go to work on offense, and help the Eagles draw within a point by the end of the opening quarter, 11-10. Nichols followed with a pair of jumpers and a drive-in basket to give Ed’s a, 16-14, advantage. The Bears would battle back and eventually grab a two-point lead, 22-20, at the half.
Michael McGovern paced the Bears with six points, and Vannatta and senior Danny Hummer each tallied five points in the opening half. Nichols scored 12 of his team’s 20 points in the half. Hamilton added six.
Nichols, who will see his stock soar after the weekend, didn’t slow down in the 2nd half. The 6-foot-6 junior scored a game-high 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting, and chipped in five rebounds. Hamilton, an unsigned signed, followed with 11 points and three dimes. Funderburk, who is coming off a broken foot, came up huge off the bench with two powerful inside moves and a 5-of-5 showing at the line for nine points.
Senior Tony Vuyancih and Walters notched seven and six points respectively.
Vannatta, a UNC Asheville signee and a kid that enjoyed a sensational tournament, closed out his high school career with 15 points, but on just 6-of-16 shooting, which was a rarity. Hummer, who handled the Eagles’ pressure all night, paced the Bears with 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting. He was also a clutch 6-of-6 from the free throw stripe.
Senior Wes Davis and Richter each totaled eight points, and Richter chipped in a team-high five rebounds. McGovern finished with six counters.
Both teams were sizzling hot from the field with Ed’s shooting 61.5 percent and UA shooting nearly 59 percent for the game. The Eagles finished 10-of-14 at the foul line, and the Bears were 11-of-13.
The two teams combined for just 20 turnovers.
With the win, the Eagles halted UA’s 26-game winning streak.
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Columbus Bishop Watterson certainly knows how the Norwalk Truckers feel following Saturday morning’s Division II state championship game. A year ago, it was the Watterson Eagles winning its first-ever boys basketball state title in its first appearance, and a year later the Truckers did the same. Unfortunately, for the Eagles, it was at their expense.
Norwalk, a team that has won 76 games over the past three seasons, used a rugged defense, timely defensive rebounding, key free throws, and great point guard play to hold on for a, 65-58, victory in a game where the two teams couldn’t have played any harder.
In a game where the Truckers (29-1) looked like they were going to run away from the defending state champions leading by as much as, 33-19, in the 3rd quarter, the Eagles showed why champions die hard. Watterson cut Norwalk’s lead to five and six points on several occasions, and even had the margin down to just four points (61-57) late in the 4th quarter. Though, the Eagles couldn’t get any closer as the winners always found a way to make a play in the clutch.
Talented senior point guard Ben Haraway, who didn’t have a bucket in the 2nd half after scoring 15 points in the 1st on 6-of-8 shooting, converted 14 freebies in the final 16 minutes finishing 15-of-19 at the line on the game. Classmate Jeff Thomas (Georgia State) came up with huge back-to-back baskets with the score showing, 50-45, to swing momentum back in Norwalk’s favor.
The Truckers were forced to make big play-after-play thanks to Watterson’s seniors Cody Calhoun and Matt Hughes, who performed like warriors. Calhoun continuously attacked the basket and Hughes did the same along with attacking the offensive boards. Calhoun scored 13 points in the 2nd half, which included 11 in the final frame. Hughes tallied 13 as well.
Senior Matt Lehmann, who was stifled most of the day by the defense played from senior Jordan Johnson, shook loose in the 4th quarter and was able to bury a pair of treys.
The Eagles, a team that usually dictates tempo, was forced to play at Norwalk’s pace today, which is a big reason for their 33 percent shooting. Watterson was just 4-of-24 from three-point range. In addition, the Maroon and Gold is built to play patient on offense and execute when its ready, but when the lead becomes double digits it’s hard to play that style.
The Eagles are the team usually forcing offenses to one-and-done situations, but today it was the Truckers limiting Watterson.
Haraway, who dazzled in the 1st half with his basket drives and pull-up jumpers, paced the winners with 29 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a trio of key blocks. Thomas, a bigtime threat from the wing at 6-foot-5, added 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Senior Grant Hull totaled eight points, four assists, and three rebounds. Johnson added four points and a quartet of rebounds along with his educational effort on defense. Breck Turner, a seldom talked about junior, came up huge with five crucial points and nine key rebounds.
Watterson got a team-high 23 points and 10 rebounds from Hughes, and 15 by Calhoun. Lehmann chipped in 11 points and five rebounds.
Norwalk out rebounded Watterson, 36-22. The Truckers made seven more free throws, which happened to be the difference in final margin.
Watterson’s two-year run concludes with a (54-3) record, which includes a state championship and now a runner-up.
Norwalk, a team that has won 76 games over the past three seasons, used a rugged defense, timely defensive rebounding, key free throws, and great point guard play to hold on for a, 65-58, victory in a game where the two teams couldn’t have played any harder.
In a game where the Truckers (29-1) looked like they were going to run away from the defending state champions leading by as much as, 33-19, in the 3rd quarter, the Eagles showed why champions die hard. Watterson cut Norwalk’s lead to five and six points on several occasions, and even had the margin down to just four points (61-57) late in the 4th quarter. Though, the Eagles couldn’t get any closer as the winners always found a way to make a play in the clutch.
Talented senior point guard Ben Haraway, who didn’t have a bucket in the 2nd half after scoring 15 points in the 1st on 6-of-8 shooting, converted 14 freebies in the final 16 minutes finishing 15-of-19 at the line on the game. Classmate Jeff Thomas (Georgia State) came up with huge back-to-back baskets with the score showing, 50-45, to swing momentum back in Norwalk’s favor.
The Truckers were forced to make big play-after-play thanks to Watterson’s seniors Cody Calhoun and Matt Hughes, who performed like warriors. Calhoun continuously attacked the basket and Hughes did the same along with attacking the offensive boards. Calhoun scored 13 points in the 2nd half, which included 11 in the final frame. Hughes tallied 13 as well.
Senior Matt Lehmann, who was stifled most of the day by the defense played from senior Jordan Johnson, shook loose in the 4th quarter and was able to bury a pair of treys.
The Eagles, a team that usually dictates tempo, was forced to play at Norwalk’s pace today, which is a big reason for their 33 percent shooting. Watterson was just 4-of-24 from three-point range. In addition, the Maroon and Gold is built to play patient on offense and execute when its ready, but when the lead becomes double digits it’s hard to play that style.
The Eagles are the team usually forcing offenses to one-and-done situations, but today it was the Truckers limiting Watterson.
Haraway, who dazzled in the 1st half with his basket drives and pull-up jumpers, paced the winners with 29 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a trio of key blocks. Thomas, a bigtime threat from the wing at 6-foot-5, added 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Senior Grant Hull totaled eight points, four assists, and three rebounds. Johnson added four points and a quartet of rebounds along with his educational effort on defense. Breck Turner, a seldom talked about junior, came up huge with five crucial points and nine key rebounds.
Watterson got a team-high 23 points and 10 rebounds from Hughes, and 15 by Calhoun. Lehmann chipped in 11 points and five rebounds.
Norwalk out rebounded Watterson, 36-22. The Truckers made seven more free throws, which happened to be the difference in final margin.
Watterson’s two-year run concludes with a (54-3) record, which includes a state championship and now a runner-up.
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It
wasn’t quite “Hoosiers,” but it won’t soon be forgotten.
Underdog Lima Central Catholic had grown men crying following a, 64-62, upset of powerhouse Cleveland VASJ in the Division III state championship tilt. Very few thought it could be done outside of Lima, but head coach Frank Kill and his Thunderbirds weren’t buying into the talk.
Lima CC (25-4), a team featuring three sophomore starters, held a commanding, 42-29, advantage in the 3rd, but there was no doubt the Vikings were going to make a run and they sure did. Following an Xavier Simpson floater that gave LCC a, 51-44, lead, junior Derek Pardon would score five-straight points and classmate Carlton Bragg added a pair of freebies to knot the game at 51 in the 4th period.
The T-Birds and Vikings went back-and-forth the remainder of the way with LCC continuing to hold the lead by one to four points. However, with VASJ trailing, 60-57, LCC missed a free toss, but the Vikings missed the block out and sophomore Dantez Walton corralled the rebound. The T-Birds would score the next two.
Joe’s fought back once again, and with the scoring showing, 63-62 following a Bragg desperation triple, in favor of LCC, the Vikings once again missed a block out on a freebie as junior Jake Williams retrieved his own miss and dished off to sophomore Tre Cobbs, who was fouled with 1.7 seconds remaining.
Cobbs would make 1-of-2, and junior Brian Parker had one last look for the Vikings, but his heave from halfcourt was just off the mark sending the LCC faithful into a frenzy.
With the win, LCC captured its 2nd state title in five seasons, and denied the Vikings of winning their sixth championship along with stopping the Cleveland-based school from becoming the 1st school to win a gold in each division. Coach Kill added to his resume that already included a state championship and state runner-up as a player at Van Wert Lincolnview, and a state title as an assistant at LCC in 2010.
Simpson, who is just a sophomore but wise beyond his years, tallied 18 points on the night, which included 16 in the 2nd half. Time-after-time he came up with clutch plays for the victors. He also notched three assists and two rebounds, and handled the ball nearly flawlessly against VASJ’s pressure.
Senior Marytce Kimbrough wrapped up an outstanding season and high school career with 22 points of which 18 were tallied in the 1st half. Kimbrough was held to just four free throws in the 2nd half thanks to a more concerted effort on the defensive end by the Vikings.
The hard-working Williams totaled 12 points, which is seven above his average along with pulling down seven boards against a huge frontline of VASJ featuring the 6-9 Bragg and 6-8 Pardon.
Bragg paced the Vikings (22-8) with 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting, and scored his 1,000th point in doing so. Pardon enjoyed a huge evening with 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while snaring a game-high 15 rebounds. Parker added 15 points and five rebounds after being held to just a pair of buckets in the 1st half.
Both team shots 50 percent or better, but the Vikings were just 2-of-12 from behind the arc and LCC was dismal at the foul line going 14-of-28.
VASJ out rebounded the winners, 33-24, but the Thunderbirds had plenty of key boards.
Underdog Lima Central Catholic had grown men crying following a, 64-62, upset of powerhouse Cleveland VASJ in the Division III state championship tilt. Very few thought it could be done outside of Lima, but head coach Frank Kill and his Thunderbirds weren’t buying into the talk.
Lima CC (25-4), a team featuring three sophomore starters, held a commanding, 42-29, advantage in the 3rd, but there was no doubt the Vikings were going to make a run and they sure did. Following an Xavier Simpson floater that gave LCC a, 51-44, lead, junior Derek Pardon would score five-straight points and classmate Carlton Bragg added a pair of freebies to knot the game at 51 in the 4th period.
The T-Birds and Vikings went back-and-forth the remainder of the way with LCC continuing to hold the lead by one to four points. However, with VASJ trailing, 60-57, LCC missed a free toss, but the Vikings missed the block out and sophomore Dantez Walton corralled the rebound. The T-Birds would score the next two.
Joe’s fought back once again, and with the scoring showing, 63-62 following a Bragg desperation triple, in favor of LCC, the Vikings once again missed a block out on a freebie as junior Jake Williams retrieved his own miss and dished off to sophomore Tre Cobbs, who was fouled with 1.7 seconds remaining.
Cobbs would make 1-of-2, and junior Brian Parker had one last look for the Vikings, but his heave from halfcourt was just off the mark sending the LCC faithful into a frenzy.
With the win, LCC captured its 2nd state title in five seasons, and denied the Vikings of winning their sixth championship along with stopping the Cleveland-based school from becoming the 1st school to win a gold in each division. Coach Kill added to his resume that already included a state championship and state runner-up as a player at Van Wert Lincolnview, and a state title as an assistant at LCC in 2010.
Simpson, who is just a sophomore but wise beyond his years, tallied 18 points on the night, which included 16 in the 2nd half. Time-after-time he came up with clutch plays for the victors. He also notched three assists and two rebounds, and handled the ball nearly flawlessly against VASJ’s pressure.
Senior Marytce Kimbrough wrapped up an outstanding season and high school career with 22 points of which 18 were tallied in the 1st half. Kimbrough was held to just four free throws in the 2nd half thanks to a more concerted effort on the defensive end by the Vikings.
The hard-working Williams totaled 12 points, which is seven above his average along with pulling down seven boards against a huge frontline of VASJ featuring the 6-9 Bragg and 6-8 Pardon.
Bragg paced the Vikings (22-8) with 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting, and scored his 1,000th point in doing so. Pardon enjoyed a huge evening with 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while snaring a game-high 15 rebounds. Parker added 15 points and five rebounds after being held to just a pair of buckets in the 1st half.
Both team shots 50 percent or better, but the Vikings were just 2-of-12 from behind the arc and LCC was dismal at the foul line going 14-of-28.
VASJ out rebounded the winners, 33-24, but the Thunderbirds had plenty of key boards.
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Dominating! That is only word worthy of Convoy Crestview’s 2nd half performance.
The Convoy Crestview Knights were mission-oriented all year, and the goal was completed on Saturday afternoon in the Division IV state title game. Crestview was able to capture the school’s first-ever boys basketball gold along with completed an undefeated season (29-0).
Crestview, who became the first DIV team since New Knoxville in 2008 to finish the year unbeaten, used a dominating 3rd quarter rolling to a, 71-44, triumph of Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas.
Much like it did in its semifinal win over Tri-Village, the Crestview Knights owned the 3rd quarter. The Northwest Conference member, Crestview, led just, 26-23, at half, but out scored Aquinas, 20-3, in the deciding 3rd quarter.
Crestview’s pair of state tournament games had one major thing in common, which were great second half adjustments and huge runs to start the final 16 minutes. The Crestview Knights were in a dogfight with the St. Thomas Aquinas Knights for the entire 1st half, but an 18-0 run to start the final two quarters all but sealed the deal on Crestview’s undefeated season. The Knights held a commanding, 44-23, lead at that point.
Senior Tyson Bolenbaugh delivered eight points in the quarter, while talented sophomore guard Connor Lautzenheiser drained a pair of triples and senior Damian Helm added four counters.
The Knights jumped out to an early, 13-5, advantage thanks to play of Lautzenheiser, and Helm and Bolenbaugh. The three combined for 13 points in the 1st quarter helping Crestview to a, 15-9, lead into the 2nd quarter.
Aquinas clawed its way back into the game in the 2nd quarter behind five points from junior Anthony Moeglin, and buckets from four others. The Knights were jumping the passing lanes allowing them to score in transition. Those buckets were non-existent in the 2nd half.
Helm led Convoy Crestview with 20 points. Bolenbaugh chipped in 18 points and eight rebounds, and Lautzenheiser and senior Preston Zaleski totaled 11 and 10 points respectively. Lautzenheiser notched six assists and Zaleski tallied five boards. Senior catalyst Cam Etzler finished with five points, four assists, and three steals.
Aquinas received 10 points from Moeglin, nine by Sam Pusateri, and senior Austin Hill, the team’s leading scorer, ended with six points. Hill added six points.
Crestview, who had a previous best finish as runner-up in 2003, held an edge on the boards (28-21). Convoy committed 19 turnovers compared to 22 for Aquinas.
The Convoy Crestview Knights were mission-oriented all year, and the goal was completed on Saturday afternoon in the Division IV state title game. Crestview was able to capture the school’s first-ever boys basketball gold along with completed an undefeated season (29-0).
Crestview, who became the first DIV team since New Knoxville in 2008 to finish the year unbeaten, used a dominating 3rd quarter rolling to a, 71-44, triumph of Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas.
Much like it did in its semifinal win over Tri-Village, the Crestview Knights owned the 3rd quarter. The Northwest Conference member, Crestview, led just, 26-23, at half, but out scored Aquinas, 20-3, in the deciding 3rd quarter.
Crestview’s pair of state tournament games had one major thing in common, which were great second half adjustments and huge runs to start the final 16 minutes. The Crestview Knights were in a dogfight with the St. Thomas Aquinas Knights for the entire 1st half, but an 18-0 run to start the final two quarters all but sealed the deal on Crestview’s undefeated season. The Knights held a commanding, 44-23, lead at that point.
Senior Tyson Bolenbaugh delivered eight points in the quarter, while talented sophomore guard Connor Lautzenheiser drained a pair of triples and senior Damian Helm added four counters.
The Knights jumped out to an early, 13-5, advantage thanks to play of Lautzenheiser, and Helm and Bolenbaugh. The three combined for 13 points in the 1st quarter helping Crestview to a, 15-9, lead into the 2nd quarter.
Aquinas clawed its way back into the game in the 2nd quarter behind five points from junior Anthony Moeglin, and buckets from four others. The Knights were jumping the passing lanes allowing them to score in transition. Those buckets were non-existent in the 2nd half.
Helm led Convoy Crestview with 20 points. Bolenbaugh chipped in 18 points and eight rebounds, and Lautzenheiser and senior Preston Zaleski totaled 11 and 10 points respectively. Lautzenheiser notched six assists and Zaleski tallied five boards. Senior catalyst Cam Etzler finished with five points, four assists, and three steals.
Aquinas received 10 points from Moeglin, nine by Sam Pusateri, and senior Austin Hill, the team’s leading scorer, ended with six points. Hill added six points.
Crestview, who had a previous best finish as runner-up in 2003, held an edge on the boards (28-21). Convoy committed 19 turnovers compared to 22 for Aquinas.