Marion Local wins Div. IV state title in double-overtime

COLUMBUS — In the first double-overtime state tournament game in 10 seasons, it was Maria Stein Marion Local getting a pair of free throws with 2.6 seconds left to top No. 9 Willoughby Cornerstone Christian, 52-51, in front of 9,620 in the Division IV state championship game at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus.It's the Flyers' third boys basketball state title in school history and first since 2003. A year ago, Marion Local fell in a Div. III regional championship game after it had beaten Edison, 54-44, in the regional semifinal round at Bowling Green.Clutch shooting by junior Nathan Bruns at the end of regulation and the first overtime gave Marion Local (25-4) life when it looked like its state title dreams were on the ropes.The 6-foot-6 forward knocked down a 3-pointer to bring the Flyers to within two at 39-37 with 1:46 remaining in regulation, overcoming a five-point deficit in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter.After Cornerstone senior Michael Bothwell missed the front end of a one-and-one with 40 seconds remaining, Marion Local senior Tyler Mescher hit a layup to tie the game at 39 and send the game to overtime.Trailing again in the second overtime, Bruns hit another three for the Flyers with 17 seconds remaining to tie the game at 44. A three by Bothwell was no good as time expired, sending the game to a second overtime.After squandering a four-point lead in the second overtime, a three by Cornerstone's Ricky Adams gave the Patriots the lead back at 51-50 with 17 seconds remaining. Mescher was fouled at the other end of the floor, and his two free throws made with 2.6 seconds remaining put Marion Local up one at 52-51. A desperation half-court heave by Cornerstone's Titus Wheeler flew wide left.Bruns finished with a monster double-double for Marion Local, which included 18 points and 14 rebounds. Mescher also scored 18 points for the Flyers and came one rebound short of a double-double of his own.Cornerstone (21-8) was led by Div. IV Player of the Year senior Michael Bothwell. The 6-3 guard scored a game-high 23 points and had seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. He was the lone double-digit scorer for the Patriots.DIVISION ICincinnati Moeller 83, Solon 65COLUMBUS — After losing in the Div. I state championship game a year ago, No. 2-ranked Cincinnati Moeller left no doubt on Saturday.In a matchup against No. 1 Solon, the Crusaders (27-3) dominated from start to finish en route to an 83-65 win to give the program a fourth state title — and first since 2007.The Crusaders held Solon to just 21-of-61 shooting as a team, including 9-of-38 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Crusaders were efficient from the field, shooting nearly 71 percent.Moeller finished with four players with 14 or more points. Senior Jeremiah Davenport finished with a team-high 22 points and added eight rebounds and five assists. Senior first team All-Ohioan Jaxson Hayes, and juniors Alec Pfriem and Miles McBride all finished with 14 points for the Crusaders.Senior Sincere Carry, also a first team All-Ohioan, carried Solon with a game-high 27 points. Solon was making its first state appearance in school history.Attendance for the game was 9,226.Akron SVSM 60, Trotwood-Madison 51COLUMBUS — The alma mater of LeBron James made Ohio history in Saturday's Div. II state title game.No. 9-ranked Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (21-9) surpassed Middletown and Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph for most Ohio high school boys basketball state championships all-time with a 60-51 victory over No. 5 Trotwood-Madison (26-4) in front of 9,096 in attendance.It's the second straight state title for the Fighting Irish, who have eight state championships in school history.The Fighting Irish used a patient offensive attack and held Trotwood-Madison's high-scoring offense, which averaged 91 points per game entering the state tournament, in check. St. Vincent-St. Mary dominated the glass, outrebounding the Rams 35-20. The Fighting Irish recorded 14 assists on 21 made baskets and turned the ball over just 12 times.Leading the way for SVSM was junior Lunden McDay, who scored 19 points. Senior Scott Walter and junior Keyshawn Jones also scored in double-figures, with Walter recording 17 points and Jones finishing with 10.Trotwood-Madison was led by senior Myles Belyeu, who scored 20 points. Junior Amare Davis added 19 points and six rebounds for the Rams.DIVISION IIICin. Deer Park 67, Cols. Africentric 57COLUMBUS — No. 2 Cincinnati Deer Park made its first-ever trip count, capping a perfect season (29-0) as it defeated No. 10-ranked Columbus Africentric, 67-57, in Saturday's Div. III state championship game.It was the tale of two halves, as Deer Park was down 36-27 at halftime, only to outscore the Nubians 40-21 in the second half to win by 10 in front of 8,705 fans.After Africentric (21-7) took an 11-point lead, its largest of the game, with 5:37 remaining in the third quarter, Deer Park closed the quarter with a 17-5 run to take a 46-45 lead going into the final eight minutes. The Wildcats didn't relinquish the lead for the remainder of the game, eventually pushing the lead to as many as 12 points.Four players finished with double-figure scoring outputs for the balanced Deer Park offense. Steven Gentry Jr. and Damani McEntire both finished with 14 points. Jalen Rose scored 13, with nine coming from beyond the three-point-arc. Joseph Hocker finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.For the Nubians, All-Ohio first team selection Trey Baumgardner scored a game-high 17.The Nubians were making their third appearance at the state tournament and first in the state title game.Deer Park's undefeated season was the first in Div. III since the 2000 Akron St. Vincent-St.Mary's team that featured Lebron James as a freshman. Edison's James Hill tries to go around Marion Local's Tyler Mescher during a Division III regional semifinal game on March 13, 2017 at the Stroh Center on the campus of Bowling Green State University. Mescher and Marion Local won the Div. IV state title on Saturday.