Margaretta beats Genoa in district final

KANSAS — One is nice. Two is better. Being more than the hunted this year, Margaretta faced a familiar opponent in Saturday's Division V boys district final at Lakota High School. Behind 23 points from Judah Keller and 22 points and 15 rebounds by Julian Washington, the top-seeded Polar Bears took down third-seeded Genoa 70-57 to claim their second straight district championship, both against the Comets. "It means everything to us and means everything to the coaches," Washington said. "It's something we've been looking forward to all year. We work for it day in and day out. We're excited that we got to be here and we're excited we got the win." Margaretta, ranked No. 10 in the state, improved to 23-1 and will face No. 5 Columbus Gahanna Academy (25-0) at 7 p.m. Wednesday in a regional semifinal at Mansfield Senior High School. The Polar Bears played Saturday without Kale Bailey, Ben Coffman and Jaxson Bohn, who were all sick. "The good Lord has blessed us with guys that work hard and compete," Margaretta coach Steve Keller said. "When we told them three guys weren't getting on the bus due to sickness, they didn't bat an eye. They wanted to get it done anyway. Our bench was a little shorter, but our guys battled. Everybody who touched the floor tonight played their butts off." The win was No. 300 in the career of Keller, who is in his 13th season at Margaretta after coaching previously at Clyde and Sandusky. "I'm just blessed with a lot of really good players and a great staff," he said. "I had no idea, to be honest. (Athletic director) Drew (Grahl) must have kept track. I don't care about the 300. I care that we're still playing and we have a chance to play an undefeated all-world team in Columbus Academy." Things didn't come easy against the Comets (19-6). Margaretta led by as many as 15 points in the third quarter, but Genoa put together a 13-4 run over the final 5:08 of the quarter to slice the Polar Bears' lead to 52-48 lead. Nolan Wiley opened the fourth quarter scoring for Margaretta before a three-point play by Judah Keller made it 57-48. Buckets by Myles Mollenhauer and Walter Plantz cut the deficit to 58-52, but Margaretta was getting enough stops to keep the Comets at bay. Washington scored for the Polar Bears and later made four straight free throws. Wiley made four consecutive free throws as well as Margaretta pulled away in the final minutes. "We talk about winning time," coach Keller said. "That last eight minutes was winning time. We had to come out and get it done. We had two choices: We could play on our heels like we did in the third or we could go out and finish it. We were able to go out and finish it tonight. Genoa is a very good basketball team." After Genoa nailed 4 of 6 3s in the third quarter, the Polar Bears' defense stiffened on the perimeter and forced the Comets into a 0-for-7 performance in the final quarter. "We had to take care of the ball and execute plays," Washington said. "We knew at the half that they'd come out and try to punch us in the mouth the best they could because they were down. They were going to give us everything they had. We had to really buckle down and lock in." Margaretta led 20-15 after one quarter and 26-21 midway through the second. Washington picked a steal and threw down a thunderous two-handed slam. He then made another steal and scored to make it 30-21. Keller added a three-point play to finish off the 7-0 run. Later, Wiley hit a pair of 3s around a Tyson Bailey score to help Margaretta to a 42-29 edge at halftime. "It means everything," Judah Keller said. "Ever since I was little, my dad has talked to me about how he wants to win a SBC championship and district title with me. To win two in a row, that's a dream come true." With Kale Bailey out, Washington's big rebounding night helped the Polar Bears to a 31-27 rebounding edge. "He understood we're down a 6-foot-4 kid who jumps well," said coach Keller. "He knew he had to outside rebound well because he was guarding on the perimeter. He did that. There were a couple times that when the ball went off the rim, there was nobody getting it before him because of where he can go where others can't." Ryan Routson hit four triples en route to leading Genoa with 14 points. Mollenhauer added 14 points and Plantz, who had Margaretta's attention at 6-foot-8, added 13 points and seven rebounds. Keller and Washington have been a part of 61 of coach Keller's 300 wins. "I love that guy. I'm so proud of him," Washington said. "I wouldn't want to play for anybody else, seriously. Him and (Margaretta assistant coach) Jake Meisler are my guys and I love them to death." GENOA (19-6)Jacob Wollard 2 0-0 5, Walter Plantz 5 3-3 13, Ryan Routson 5 1-2 15, Ty Asman 1 3-4 5, Myles Mollenhauer 5 2-3 14, Jax Magnone 2 0-2 4. TOTALS 20 9-14 57 MARGARETTA (23-1)Tate Bailey 1 0-0 2, Keigyan Morris 1 0-0 2, Julian Washington 8 5-8 22, Judah Keller 7 7-10 23, Tyson Bailey 4 0-0 8, Nolan Wiley 3 5-6 13. TOTALS 24 17-26 Genoa 15 14 19 9 — 57Margaretta 20 22 10 18 — 70 Three-point goals: Genoa 8 (Routson 4, Mollenhauer 2, Wollard, Asman); Margaretta 5 (Keller 2, Wiley 2, Washington)