February 26, 2006 - Winter Release No. 2 - Ohio High School ...

OHSAA WINTER SPORTS TOURNAMENTS -8-8-8
Division II: Top-ranked Upper Sandusky (27-0) completed its undefeated season with a record-breaking weekend
and a 94-86 victory over Wooster Triway (22-3) in the finals to give the school its first state basketball title.
The 94 points scored and the 180 combined points both set Division II state championship game records. The
Rams jumped out to a 53-31 halftime lead before holding off the Titans, who crept within four points at 86-82
with 1:28 left. Sophomore swingman Jon Diebler led the Rams with 32 points and 14 rebounds, while senior
senior wing Greg Micheli pitched in 21 points. Triway had four scorers in double digits, led by junior guard Jamie
Breneman’s 25 that included a divisional final record-tying four three-pointers.
Upper Sandusky outscored Dayton Dunbar 95-90 in the semifinals. The Rams were again led by Diebler, who
had 29 points including seven three-pointers which set a divisional state semifinal game record. As a team, the
Rams set the all divisions record for most three pointers made in a state tournament game with 16. Junior guard
Daequan Cook’s 26 points led Dunbar, which set a Division II state semifinal game records with 37 points in the
fourth quarter and 53 total rebounds. Triway reached the state finals via a 71-70 victory over Columbus Linden
McKinley. The school erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit and junior forward Linc Rottman hit a foul shot
with eight seconds left to break a 70-all tie. Rottman finished with 25, while the Panthers were led by senior forward
Shaun Gunnell's 25 points.
Upper Sandusky begins play in this year’s tournament when it meets Galion Wednesday at Mansfield Senior.
A win advances the school to the sectional finals Friday at Mansfield.
Division III: No. 1-ranked Cincinnati North College Hill (27-1) outbattled No. 2 Ironton 71-65 to give the school
its first state basketball title. The Trojans outscored Ironton 23-14 in the second quarter to take the lead for good.
Leading North College Hill were sophomores O.J. Mayo with 22 points and Bill Walker with 19 points and 14
rebounds. Sophomore center Keenan Ellis contributed five blocked shots. Ironton was led by senior center
Cliffton Howard, who scored 28 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, a Division III state championship game record.
NCH had little trouble defeating No. 11 Loudonville in the semifinals, 75-42. Mayo led the Trojans with 21
points and senior post Kyle Gillette led Loudonville with 27 points and 19 rebounds, a Division III state semifinal
record. Ironton got past No. 7 Archbold in the other semifinal game, 70-66. Archbold cut a 15-point fourth
quarter deficit to 68-66 with nine seconds left, but sophomore guard Chad Miller converted two free throws to
seal the win. Junior guard Dennis Gagai led Ironton with 23 points, while Archbold was led by junior guard
David Borcherdt's 20.
North College Hill opens play in this year’s tournament play when it faces Blanchester tonight (Monday) at
Mason. A win advances the school to the sectional finals Friday at the University of Dayton.
Division IV: Unranked Cleveland Heights Lutheran East (22-5) was declared the state champion after
Columbus Africentric Secondary School was forced to forfeit the championship for using an ineligible player.
Top-ranked Africentric had defeated Lutheran East in the finals prior to the forfeiture, 74-66, to raise its record
to 27-1. The Nubians, who sped to an 11-point first quarter lead and shot 60 percent from the field in the second
half, had four players score in double figures, led by senior forward Donald Suel’s 20 points. Junior guard Jon
Liggins turned in a record-breaking performance for Lutheran East when he poured in 42 points, setting the
Division IV record for most points scored in a championship game and tying him for sixth for most points in a
title game for any division.
In the semifinals, it took two overtimes for Lutheran East to claim a come-from-behind victory over No. 13
Minster in stunning fashion. Senior guard Donnell Washington came off the bench and poured in 22 points for
the Falcons, including a three-pointer in the final seconds to give the team a 86-84 win. Jon Liggins led Lutheran
East with 24 points, while senior forward Dane Sommer scored 22 points to lead Minster. In the other semifinal,
Africentric held No. 11 Continental to 27 percent shooting and 13 points in the first half to claim a 61-45 victory.
Senior forward LaQuawn Perry led the Nubians with 14 points, while Continental senior guard Kurtis
Brown led all scorers with 16.
Lutheran East begins play in this year’s tournament when it meets Cleveland Horizon Science Academy or
North Ridgeville Lake Ridge Academy Friday at Strongsville. A win advances the school to the district semifinals
March 7 at Strongsville.
2006 AP TOP-RANKED TEAMS (Associated Press Final Statewide Media Poll):
Division I: Canton McKinley. See 2006 tournament information on the previous page.
Division II: Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary begins tournament play when it meets Richfield Revere or Canton
Timken Wednesday at Barberton. A win advances the school to the district semifinals March 8 at Barberton.
Division III: Cincinnati North College Hill. See 2006 tournament information above.
Division IV: Ottoville begins tournament play when it meets Van Wert Lincolnview Friday at Van Wert. A win
advances the school to the district semifinals March 7 at Elida.
COMPLETE STATEWIDE BRACKETS AVAILABLE: Complete statewide brackets for all divisions — beginning
at the sectional tournament level — are available on the OHSAA web site (www.ohsaa.org) by going to the
“Sports & Tournaments” dropdown box in the left-hand corner of the home page followed by the “Basketball-
Boys.” The web site includes score updates the day following each game.
MEDIA CREDENTIALS FOR SECTIONAL, DISTRICT AND REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS: Contact
the specific tournament manager. Names and telephone numbers of tournament managers are posted on the
OHSAA web site (www.ohsaa.org). To find the managers on the web site, go to “Basketball-Boys” under the
“Sports & Tournaments” dropdown box in the left-hand corner of the home page followed by “2006 Sectional
and District Site Assignments.”
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