Massillon Jackson captures Division I basketball crown

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Massillon Jackson broke open a close game with a huge third quarter and rolled to a 57-34 win over Cincinnati Moeller Saturday in the Division I state championship at Value City Arena.

Jackson (25-2) outscored Moeller 24-5 in the third quarter and held the Crusaders scoreless for almost seven minutes to take a 24-point lead going into the final quarter.

Mark Henninger led Jackson with 21 points and 12 rebounds, as the Polar Bears claimed their first state title.

Michael Shull added 17 points, Brad DuPont had 11 points and 5 assists and Josh Egner grabbed 10 rebounds.

Griffin McKenzie led Moeller (22-5) with nine points.

Dayton Dunbar 64, Port Clinton 50

Geron Johnson scored 24 points and handed out seven assists as Dayton Dunbar defeated Port Clinton in the Division II game.

It’s the fourth state championship for Dunbar (25-3), who also won in 1987, 2006 and 2007. It was Port Clinton’s first appearance in the state tournament.

Johnson scored 14 points in the second half, when Dunbar bounced back from a one-point halftime deficit. Dunbar outscored Port Clinton 16-10 in the third quarter, and 22-13 in the fourth.

Derek Colston and Ryan Hicks combined for 23 of Port Clinton’s points in the first half. Colston capped off a 13-point half with a three-pointer at the buzzer that gave the Redskins a 27-26 halftime lead. They each finished with 15 points to lead the Redskins (26-1).

Ryan Bass scored 13 points for Dunbar and Deon Stewart added 10 in the win.

Lima Central Catholic 60, orrville 57

Austin Stolly scored 16 points and Lima Central Catholic held off a furious rally to claim its first title in the Division III contest.

Desi Kirkman added 14 points, five rebounds and six assists in the win for the Thunderbirds.

Lima (23-4) led by as many as 14 points and held a nine-point advantage heading into the fourth quarter, but Orrville’s Zach Wasson scored 10 points in the final quarter. Wasson missed a three-pointer that would have tied the game in the final seconds.

Joey Bescanson and Jacob Bolyard led Orrville (21-6) with 14 points each.

Dayton Jefferson 59, Newark Catholic 52

Cody Latimer was almost perfect from the field and finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds for Dayton Jefferson in the Division IV game.

Joby Jackson added 10 points for the Broncos (17-10), who won their fourth state championship.

Matt Dawson led the Green Wave with 20 points and four assists.