Akron SVSM earns shot at sixth crown

Associated Press

Columbus

Richard Johnson Jr. hit a 3-pointer with 1:35 left to put Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary ahead for good in a 49-44 win over Columbus Hartley in a Division II boys basketball semifinal Thursday.

The Fighting Irish (18-9) were recovering from the loss of a 13-point lead when Johnson gave them a 43-42 edge. Four foul shots by Davonte Beard and two more from Lorenzo Cugini made it 49-42. Jacob Matuska made two free throws for Hartley (22-2) with 4.9 seconds to go.

The Irish will play Thurgood Marshall on Saturday.

SVSM has five titles, tying Columbus East for the second-most. Its most recent was 2009. The record is seven by Middletown.

Thurgood Marshall 68, Toledo Rogers 66

Joe Thomasson’s rebound of his own missed layup with 18 seconds to play lifted Thurgood Marshall.

After the basket, Rogers (16-6) then had two opportunities to win or tie. Clemmye Owens missed a long three-pointer with 2.3 seconds left, but the rebound went out of bounds off the hands of several Marshall (22-5) players, setting up a final play for Rogers. A shot from the right corner by Tony Kynard hit the side of the backboard.

Thurgood Marshall played without leading scorer Jordan Watson, who was suspended.

Division IV Berlin Hiland 70, Continental 56

Seger Bonifant scored 23 points and Jalen Miller added 13 for Hiland (26-1), which ran out to a 15-9 lead after one quarter. The Hawks, who defeated McDonald in the regional finals, will meet Canal Winchester Harvest Prep in Saturday’s final.

John Spitnale scored 15 points to lead four players in double figures for Continental (21-4).

Harvest prep 54, Houston 39

Grant Harris had 14 points off the bench and Shakir Dunning 10 to lead Harvest Prep (22-5), which will try to become the fourth Ohio school to win state titles in boys and girls basketball in the same year.