DAYTON, Ohio — Seven teams have been crowned state champs after claiming victory in the OHSAA boys basketball championships Friday and Saturday.
Here are the highlights across all the divisions that played this weekend.
Division III — Aiken vs. Louisville
Tate Aljancic led the Leopards with 17 points and Louisville held off a Cincinnati Aiken rally to win 63-61 and its first state title in the OHSAA Division III boys’ basketball state championship game at UD Arena on Friday.
Louisville (24-5) led by 18 points at halftime and as many as nine with 1:23 left in the fourth quarter before the Falcons began their final comeback bid. Cincinnati Aiken had trailed at halftime in each of its past five postseason games, advancing and winning each, and both teams knew it would be close down the stretch of the championship game.
You can watch the game replay here.
Division IV — Maysville vs. Glenville
Gator Nichols led all scorers with 36 points helping Zanesville Maysville overcome a halftime deficit 74-67 over Cleveland Glenville in the OHSAA Division IV boys’ basketball state championship game at UD Arena on Friday.
Zanesville Maysville (27-3) trailed 37-32 at halftime and 65-58 with 5:21 remaining in the fourth quarter after Tarblooders senior Xavier Vickerstaff hit back-to-back 3-pointers.
You can watch the game replay here.
Division II — Westerville North vs. Massillon Perry
Behind a balanced scoring night and 24 points from Micah Young, Westerville North beat Massillon Perry 78-46 and won its first state title in 31 years in the OHSAA Division II boys’ basketball state championship game at UD Arena on Friday.
Westerville North (25-2) last advanced to the final four when it went from 1994-96. Friday’s win marked 24 in a row for the Warriors to finish the season, and they won their final six outings — all postseason games — by an average of 38.7 points.
You can watch the game replay here.
Division V — Columbus Academy vs. Lutheran East
Four scorers reached double figures as Cleveland Heights Lutheran East won a third-consecutive state title 53-49 over Gahanna Columbus Academy in the OHSAA Division V boys’ basketball state championship game at UD Arena on Saturday.
In a game that featured seven lead changes and two ties through three quarters, Cleveland Heights Lutheran East (25-4) and Gahanna Columbus Academy found themselves tied at 37 points in the first-ever Division V state title game.
You can watch the game replay here.
Division VI — Marion Local vs. Monroe Central
Corbin Farnsworth led the Seminoles with 12 points while Cooper Howell and Chance Allen each added 10 to help Woodsfield Monroe Central defeat Maria Stein Marion Local 43-35 in the OHSAA Division VI boys’ basketball state championship game at UD Arena on Saturday.
Woodsfield Monroe Central (26-3) led by as many as 13 points in the first half but the Flyers cut it down to as little as two in the third quarter and five in the fourth.
You can watch the game replay here.
Division VII — Russia vs. Cornerstone Christian
Braylon Cordonnier scored 22 points and Dominic Francis added 21 while Russia beat Willoughby Cornerstone Christian Academy 74-57 to go undefeated and win the state title in the OHSAA Division VII boys’ basketball state championship game at UD Arena on Saturday.
Russia (29-0) held the Patriots to eight points in the third quarter and shot 63.6% in the period lengthening the Raiders’ 38-34 halftime lead.
You can watch the game replay here.
Division I — Reynoldsburg vs. Olentangy Orange
Ellis Appiah scored 20 points and Olentangy Orange claimed its first state title 56-41 over Reynoldsburg in the OHSAA Division I boys’ basketball state championship game at UD Arena on Saturday.
In an all-Central Ohio state championship matchup for the first time since 1963, Olentangy Orange (26-2) found its stroke in the third quarter, scoring 30 points after totaling 17 in the first half.
You can watch the game replay here.
Here are photos of this weekend's winners and runners up:
