DAYTON, Ohio — Four state champions were crowned at UD Arena on Sunday.
Division I: Westerville Central - 42 Centerville - 43 (Final)
The Centerville Elks did not score in the final 2:33 of the game, but held on to a one-point lead for the final 44 seconds to win the Elks' first boys basketball state title in school history, 43-42.
Here’s your trophy Centerville, you earned it! @SpectrumNews1OH pic.twitter.com/bq26luCkWZ
— Tino Bovenzi (@TinoBovenzi) March 22, 2021
After hitting the three-point basket will 44 seconds remaining, Landon Tillman took a three-point shot from the right corner that hit off the front of the rim as time expired.
Centerville wins the Division 1 State Championship @SpectrumNews1OH pic.twitter.com/GCtDHgx6BC
— Tino Bovenzi (@TinoBovenzi) March 22, 2021
Westerville Central went on an 8-0 run to start the fourth quarter to take the lead, 39-34.
The Elks responded with a 9-0 run to take a lead with 3:10 remaining, a lead they never gave up.
Sophomore Gabe Cupps led Centerville with 16 points. Cupps was supported by Tom House and Rich Rolf who both finished with nine points.
Tillman also finished tied for the game-high 16 points. He was supported by Tasos Cook with 10.
Congratulations @Elk_Basketball for winning their 1st #OHSAA Boys Basketball State Championship! 🏀🏆 pic.twitter.com/Ec9FzrN5fU
— OHSAASports (@OHSAASports) March 22, 2021
🏀🏆#OHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL: Centerville defeats Westerville Central in the Division I State Championship https://t.co/wTr407MpAr pic.twitter.com/jDYUqvRPv6
— OHSAASports (@OHSAASports) March 22, 2021
Trading two for one baskets early in the third quarter found the Warhawks leading Centerville, 28-26.
Centerville and Westerville Central are in a battle right now on @SpectrumNews1OH tune in! @SpecSportsOH pic.twitter.com/9OIvZpDtjq
— Tino Bovenzi (@TinoBovenzi) March 22, 2021
But after Centerville tied things back up at 28, sophomore Gabe Cupps went on a 6-0 run on his own that led to the Elks leading, 34-31.
🏀🏆#OHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL: Centerville leads Westerville Central after the 3rd quarter of the Division I State Championship https://t.co/wTr407MpAr pic.twitter.com/5UuUz1KsCD
— OHSAASports (@OHSAASports) March 22, 2021
Centerville was able to sustain its four-point by the end of the second quarter, leading the Warhawks, 22-18.
Westerville Central took the first half of the second quarter to tie the game at 15. Centerville, though, then went on a 7-0 run to retake the lead.
We have a tie game 15-15 in the second quarter between Westerville Central and Centerville. Catch the action on @SpectrumNews1OH @SpecSportsOH pic.twitter.com/fUyELeVNwv
— Tino Bovenzi (@TinoBovenzi) March 22, 2021
A three-point basket by Landon Tillman with 33 seconds left in the half concluded the second quarter as it started, with Westerville Central trailing the Elks by four.
Centerville takes a 22-18 lead into half against Westerville Central. The Division I State Championship is Live on @SpectrumNews1OH @OHSAASports pic.twitter.com/eYeduLS5GH
— Tino Bovenzi (@TinoBovenzi) March 22, 2021
One more half to go! The @OHSAASports Division I Championship between @WCHS_Warhawks and @chselksad continues on @SpectrumNews1OH and the Spectrum News App!
— High School Blitz on Spectrum News 1 (@SpecSportsOH) March 22, 2021
Highlights from @YsnCook3, @CuppsGabe, @tjhouse03 and @tilllando2 pic.twitter.com/6tl9pTvnax
🏀🏆#OHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL: At halftime of the Division I State Championship, Centerville leads Westerville Central. Stay updated with live stats and @SpecSportsOH live stream at https://t.co/wTr407MpAr pic.twitter.com/Ig3yIKLfFl
— OHSAASports (@OHSAASports) March 22, 2021
Centerville got out to an early lead and was able to keep it to lead after the first quarter, 15-11.
Centerville got out to a 10-3 lead to start the game, but couldn't hold the Warhawks off for long. Westerville Central used a three-point shot, a layup, and dunk to cut the lead to three with less than two mintues remaining in the quarter.
Centerville's Gabe Cupps hit a three-point shot and Westerville Central's Landon Tillman hit a jumper with 30 seconds remaining to conclude the scoring for the quarter.
🏀🏆#OHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL: Centerville leads Westerville Central after the 1st quarter of the Division I State Championship https://t.co/wTr407MpAr pic.twitter.com/QQ4zT8nQvO
— OHSAASports (@OHSAASports) March 22, 2021
Division II: St. Francis DeSales - 50 Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary - 72 (Final)
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary clinched its state-record ninth boys basketball state championship in program history by using a strong second-half offensive output versus St. Francis DeSales, 72-50.
St. Vincent St. Mary is your Division 2 State Champions. @SpectrumNews1OH pic.twitter.com/E3Z9zCZMLe
— Tino Bovenzi (@TinoBovenzi) March 21, 2021
The Fighting Irish were led by Ohio State commit Malaki Branham's 37 points, inlcuding 24 in the second half. He was supported by the 11 points scored by Ramar Pryor.
@MalakiBranham is taking over this game! Irish lead 52-39 with 2:23 to play in the 3rd. @OHSAASports @SpectrumNews1OH pic.twitter.com/pl5GRhxQ3N
— Tino Bovenzi (@TinoBovenzi) March 21, 2021
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary won the fourth quarter, 18-8, to outscore the Stallions 44-17 in the second half.
Desmond Watson led St. Francis DeSales with 23 points and was supported by Austin Mann's 10 points.
Congratulations to St. Vincent-St. Mary for winning their 9th state title! 🏆🏀 pic.twitter.com/0qWn0uKoL6
— OHSAASports (@OHSAASports) March 21, 2021
🏀🏆 #OHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL:
— OHSAASports (@OHSAASports) March 21, 2021
Final: St. Vincent-St.Mary 72, St. Francis DeSales 50.
Congratulations to St. Vincent-St. Mary, Division II State Champions!
The Irish stand alone at the top of the OHSAA with their 9th state championship.https://t.co/eW5UR8fWXD@STVMAthletics pic.twitter.com/xT0B89X9U3
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary came out of the halftime break on a mission. The Fighting Irish went on a 17-1 run in the opening 3:30 of the second half to go from down five to leading by 11. Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary ended the quarter leading, 54-42.
During the quarter, Malaki Branham singlehandidly went on a 16-2 run to push the Fighting Irish to a double-digit lead.
Desmond Watson scored all nine points in the quarter for St. Francis DeSales.
🏀🏆 #OHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL: A strong offensive quarter from St. Vincent-St. Mary puts them ahead of St. Francis DeSales heading into the fourth quarter of the Division II State Final.https://t.co/eW5UR8fWXD pic.twitter.com/izHMb5YW3Q
— OHSAASports (@OHSAASports) March 21, 2021
Despite giving up going on a 14-4 run to open the second quarter, St. Francis DeSales wasn't able to put St. Vincent-St. Mary away. The Stallions, though, kept its lead from the opening basket to the halftime buzzer, leading 33-28.
After St. Francis DeSales extended its lead to 13, its largest of the game to that point with 2:40 left in the half, the Fighting Irish went on a 10-2 run, which included a dunk by Malaki Branhan to cut the lead to single digits and a jumpshot to cut the Stallions' lead to five points.
Not too late for 2nd half action from @OHSAASports Division II championship between @STVMAthletics and @SFDStallions on @SpectrumNews1OH
— High School Blitz on Spectrum News 1 (@SpecSportsOH) March 21, 2021
and the Spectrum News App.
first half highlights from @deswat4 and @MalakiBranham pic.twitter.com/1laxIuYcOs
🏀🏆 #OHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL: At halftime of the Division II State Final, DeSales leads St. Vincent-St. Mary 33-28.https://t.co/eW5UR8fWXD pic.twitter.com/VtJI51ssZa
— OHSAASports (@OHSAASports) March 21, 2021
St. Francis DeSales quickly extended its lead early in the second quarter to seven - Branham dunk 1:41 cut to 9 -
🏀🏆 #OHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL: St. Francis DeSales leads St. Vincent-St. Mary after the first quarter of the Division II State Final.https://t.co/wTr407MpAr pic.twitter.com/dBVaREhqYH
— OHSAASports (@OHSAASports) March 21, 2021
St. Francis DeSales scored the first points of the game, and kept the lead for the entire quarter, leading at the end of the first quarter, 13-10.
The Stallions led by as many as five points with a minute remaining in the opening quarter.
Division III: Lutheran East - 61 Worthington Christian - 56 (Final)
Lutheran East fended off a fourth-quarter surge by Worthington Christian in a high-scoring fourth quarter to claim its third boys basketball state championship, 61-56.
The Lue did what it came to do!
— High School Blitz on Spectrum News 1 (@SpecSportsOH) March 21, 2021
Win the @OHSAASports Division III state championship, with a 61-56 win over @WCWarriorSports.@LutheranEast pic.twitter.com/dYPiOGk1Dv
The Eagles led by 12, their largest lead of the game, with less than five minutes in the game, but Worthington Christian used a 12-4 run in the next two minutes to close the gap.
🏀🏆#OHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL: Congratulations @LutheranEast on your 3rd Boys Basketball State Championship! pic.twitter.com/M5Fbeb2bgs
— OHSAASports (@OHSAASports) March 21, 2021
The Warriors got within two points with 50 seconds remaining after a steal in the backcourt that led a layup by Tommy Anthony, his only points of the game.
Jared Lary and Sirr Hughes combined for four made free throws in the final 34 seconds to push the lead for Lutheran East
Cleveland Heights Lutheran East wins the D-3 state championship! @SpectrumNews1OH @SpecSportsOH pic.twitter.com/PAQulIMQls
— Tino Bovenzi (@TinoBovenzi) March 21, 2021
Jalin Billingsly led Lutheran East with a double-double performance with 24 points and 12 rebounds. He was supported by Sirr Hughes and Jalen Knott with 11 points apiece.
Worthington Christian's DJ Moore led all scorers with 28 points. He was followed by Tyler Kindberg with 13 points.
🏀🏆#OHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL: Cleveland Hts. Lutheran East defeated Worthington Christian in the Division III State Championship https://t.co/wTr407MpAr pic.twitter.com/Tkq39qMef6
— OHSAASports (@OHSAASports) March 21, 2021
Worthington Christian pulled within four points early in the third quarter, but could get no closer in the quarter as Lutheran East pushed the lead to as much as 10 and used a 3-point shot with 15 seconds left in the quarter to lead the Warriors at the end fo the third quarter, 39-30.
Lutheran East's Jalin Billingsly is nearing a double-double for the Eagles with 14 points and eight rebounds.
🏀🏆#OHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL: Cleveland Hts. Lutheran East remains in the lead after the 3rd quarter of the Division III State Championship https://t.co/wTr407MpAr pic.twitter.com/kYsJvsMnwV
— OHSAASports (@OHSAASports) March 21, 2021
Lutheran East used a team-effort in the scoring column to sustain its lead into halftime, as no player scored in the double figures as the Eagles led, 23-15.
Jalin Billingsly and Sirr Hughes both finished the half with seven points.
Meanwhile, DJ Moore accoutned for 11 of Worthington Christian's 15 points in the half.
At half in the @OHSAASports Division III championship, @LutheranEast leads @WCWarriorSports 23-15.
— High School Blitz on Spectrum News 1 (@SpecSportsOH) March 21, 2021
highlights from @dmo13_, steal by @JaredLary leads to @JalenKnott04 break, and @JalinBillingsl1 .
Second half coming up soon @SpectrumNews1OH and Spectrum News App. pic.twitter.com/HIOsaGmTOk
Lutheran East started the game on a 7-0 to take an early lead.
But Worthington Christian's DJ Moore got his team back in the game scoring five points to cut into the Lutheran East lead.
🏀🏆#OHSAA BOYS BAKSETBALL: Cleveland Hts. Lutheran East leads Worthington Christian after the 1st quarter of the Division III State Championship https://t.co/wTr407MpAr pic.twitter.com/mjppOowoTY
— OHSAASports (@OHSAASports) March 21, 2021
Division IV: Botkins - 60 Columbus Grove - 44 (Final)
Botkins nearly doubled-up Columbus Grove in the fourth quarter to claim the D-IV boys basketball state championship Sunday, 60-44.
The Trojans outscored Columbus Grove 23-12 in the fourth quarter to seperate them from the Bulldogs to win the first boys basketball state title in school history.
Congratulations to @BotkinsHoops, the @OHSAASports Division IV State Champions!
— High School Blitz on Spectrum News 1 (@SpecSportsOH) March 21, 2021
60-44 winners over Columbus Grove, for the school's first ever state title. pic.twitter.com/dwRw9o9f8c
Botkins' Jayden Priddy-Powell led all scorers with 27 points, going 10-13 from the field, including 4-5 on three-point attempts.
Carter Pleiman and Jacob Pleiman scored 17 and 10 points, respectively, for the Trojans.
Congratulations @BotkinsHoops on your first state title! 🏀🏆 pic.twitter.com/qyLbkEdRr4
— OHSAASports (@OHSAASports) March 21, 2021
The Bulldogs were led by Gabe Clement with 18 points and Blake Reynolds with 17 points.
The players from Botkins almost immediately went over to the Columbus Grove bench to show respect. A great moment of sportsmanship. #OHSAA @SpectrumNews1OH pic.twitter.com/mCkydl8aCT
— Ryan Schmelz (@rschmelztv) March 21, 2021
🏀🏆#OHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL:
— OHSAASports (@OHSAASports) March 21, 2021
Final: Botkins 60, Columbus Grove 44
Congratulations Botkins, Division IV State Champions! pic.twitter.com/NocQVtprm6
The third quarter was a toe-to-toe bout, as Columbus Grove was able to chip one more point off the Trojans' lead, 37-32.
🏀🏆 #OHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL: Botkins keeps a slight lead over Columbus Grove after three quarters of play in the Division IV State Final. pic.twitter.com/1Dd0V83OxC
— OHSAASports (@OHSAASports) March 21, 2021
Fouls were an issue for the Bulldogs, committing five.
The Bulldogs started the second quarter on an 8-0 run and won the second quarter, to trail at the half, 28-22.
Second half of the @OHSAASports Division IV Final between @cgschools and @BotkinsHoops is underway on @SpectrumNews1OH and the Spectrum News App!
— High School Blitz on Spectrum News 1 (@SpecSportsOH) March 21, 2021
Highlights from @jaydenpriddy5 (15 pts), @JacobPleiman, @cgblake and @cg_gabe21 pic.twitter.com/7awKptwTNn
Botkins got off to a hot start going on a 16-0 run to start the OHSAA Boys D-IV State Championship to lead Columbus Grove, 20-7 at the end of the first quarter.
But the Trojans couldn’t slam on the door on Columbus Grove.
Columbus Grove dominates the second quarter to get within 6 points at halftime. Grove has held Jayden Priddy-Powell to just 2 points after his early 13 point run. #OHSAA @SpectrumNews1OH pic.twitter.com/koR4fHFb0j
— Ryan Schmelz (@rschmelztv) March 21, 2021