Perkins' historic run ends with loss in state semifinals

FAIRBORN — Perkins' first foray into the boys basketball state semifinals was turned away at the 3-point line. The Pirates failed to make a 3-pointer — or even a jump shot outside the lane — in Thursday afternoon's 48-36 Division IV state semifinal loss to Glenville at Wright State's cavernous Nutter Center. It was Perkins' lowest point total of a historic season that saw the Pirates finish 25-3 and play until the last week of the season. "We set the tone on defense and it led to a little bit of offense," Glenville senior Arvell Nelson Jr. said. "We've been preaching all week to run them off the line. We were focused on making them beat us off the dribble and not with the 3s. Thankfully they weren't hitting and our game plan worked out." Perkins made only 1 of 12 attempts from the field in the first quarter and fell behind 30-12 at halftime after Glenville went on a 16-0 run that took less than four minutes. "They kind of got off to a fast start and we didn't finish early, then you're trailing the whole game," Perkins coach Andy Hoying said. "It's tough to get back in it against a really good team. It stings a little bit. You get here, you want to play your best and win these games." The Pirates, who averaged nearly seven made 3s per game this season, were 0 for 12 from beyond the arc and shot just 30 percent from the field in the game. "They were doing a good job staying tight to our shooters. (Long-range standouts) Sam (Schweinfurth) and Grant (Kuhnle) had a tough one," Hoying said. "They did a good job covering them and when we did get a couple open ones they just didn't fall. You need a couple of those to fall in big games if you want to come out with the victory. "Didn't hit the big shots tonight, but they've been great all year hitting big shots to get us here." Perkins, which won its first five tournament games by an average of 25 points, tried to climb out of a big halftime hole. The Pirates outscored Glenville 24-18 in the second half and committed only one turnover in the final two quarters. "I think we came out a little timid and I think we were a little scared of what they brought defensively," Perkins senior Kellen Glass said. "That's why we came out super slow." Glenville was in such good shape at halftime that head coach Bryon Ottrix was on guard when the third quarter began. "Honestly it gets a little scary when you get up that early because you don't want the kids to take their foot off the gas and get undisciplined," he said. "We wanted to stay locked in and finish the game." Perkins' only offense in the first half came from Kaden Legando, who got to the rim and scored eight points. His first basket cut Glenville's early lead to 7-4 with 3:44 left in the first quarter. The Tarblooders answered in a decisive manner. Three 3-pointers, some reverse layups and a backdoor cut and dunk by Gio Ramos highlighted Glenville's 16-0 run and all but put the game out of reach by halftime. Theo Castro led Glenville (19-9) with 14 points. Nelson added 10 points and Ramos finished with seven points and 13 rebounds. Nelson, a quarterback who led Glenville to a state football championship last December, was well aware of the football history between Glenville and Perkins. The two northern Ohio powers split a pair of intense playoff meetings in 2023 and 2024. "Oh yeah, definitely. It was a little personal coming into this one," Nelson said. "They beat us my junior year to send us home. We wanted to get that feeling of being on top of them and it was a good feeling." Perkins played a much cleaner second half, committing only one turnover after 11 giveaways in the first half. "We've been loose all year. Maybe a little timidness, but I thought our guys continued to fight throughout the game," Hoying said. "It's tough that you don't make those layups early. That probably makes it a tighter game." The Pirates used an 8-0 run to get within 35-26 on Glass' drive to the basket with 6:08 to play. Plenty of time, but Glenville answered with its own 8-0 run, highlighted by Castro's deep 3 with 5:30 to play. Perkins junior point guard Bryce Davie went to the floor in pain seconds into the third quarter. He held his right elbow and wrist several times. "Bryce got a little banged up — wrist, elbow," Hoying said. "We'll make sure he's good. He was grinding all night long. He had a tough job guarding (Castro) and running the point for us. They were really hassling him and he did a great job handling pressure." Perkins, which saw its nine-game winning streak end, emptied its bench with about a minute to play and its junior varsity players — who went undefeated this season — closed with a 7-0 run. Glenville, which lost in the state semifinals last year, will play Cincinnati Wyoming in Friday's state title game. Wyoming knocked out defending champion Maysville in Thursday's second Div. IV semifinal. "I feel like we're battled-tested," Ottrix said. "We played a really tough schedule. We play some of the best competition in northeast Ohio. We've been in hostile environments all year. This is just part of it for us. We made a run last year. Experience is the best teacher." The state run was a great experience for Perkins, too. "Perkins is my home school," said Glass, who led the Pirates with 12 points. "Doing this for this school and making history is honestly a special feeling. Doing it with this group of guys has meant even more. These are my guys. We hang out after every practice, we go out and get food. We're a family and it means a lot that we can make this much history." Added Hoying: "After that midway point (of the season) we really becoming a tight-knit team on the defensive side and offensive side. We had five guys on the court at all times that could really share the ball and score it. "They should be very proud of themselves. They really gelled as a group and that's what you really want for a good tournament run. We're definitely happy to be down here. Very proud of these guys." GLENVILLE (19-9) Arvell Nelson Jr. 4 0-2 10, Theo Castro 6 1-2 14, Gio Ramos 3 0-0 7, Lorenzo Smith 1 0-0 2, Davon Moore 1 0-0 2, Jahi Hobson 2 0-0 5, Jayden Jordan 3 1-2 8. TOTALS 20 2-6 48 PERKINS (25-3) Kellen Glass 4 4-4 12, Sam Schweinfurth 0 0-0 0, Kash Koch 0 0-0 0, Bryce Davie 1 0-0 2, Levi Groot 1 1-2 3, Kaden Legando 5 0-2 10, Grant Kuhnle 1 0-0 2, Logan Wadsworth 1 1-2 3, Carter Koch 1 0-0 2, DJ Johnson 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 15 6-10 36 Glenville 16 14 5 13 — 48 Perkins 4 8 10 14 — 36 Three-point goals: Glenville 6 (Nelson 2, Castro, Ramos, Hobson, Jordan); Perkins 0