Dunbar, Elida advance to Division II title game

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Andre Yates scored 26 points to help Dayton Dunbar beat Mentor Lake Catholic 75-60 in an Ohio boys Division II semifinal Friday at Value City Arena.

The Wolverines (27-0) were hampered by poor 3-point shooting and saw Lake Catholic (23-3) get within five points of them with less than six minutes to play. Then Yates fed Deontae Hawkins for a dunk. He scored off a steal and then was fouled.

Yates’ free throw made it 54-44, and Dunbar was able to pull away late.

Hawkins added 19 points and 12 rebounds. Mike Whalen led four Lake Catholic players in double figures with 14 points.

Dunbar will play for a second title in three years.

Elida 61, St. Clairsville 27

Cory Royster had 18 points and 18 rebounds to boost Elida in the other Div. II semifinal.

The Bulldogs (24-3), in their first state appearance, will play Dayton Dunbar seeking its fifth title.

Elida dominated from the moment of Reggie McAdams’ dunk four seconds into the game. That led to a 15-0 advantage after the first period as St. Clairsville tied the all-division tournament record for offensive futility in a quarter.

St. Clairsville (23-3) trailed 26-11 at halftime but was outscored 22-9 in the third quarter.

Jerrid Marhefka’s nine points for St. Clairsville couldn’t prevent the Red Devils from setting a Division II tourney record for fewest points in a game.

Division I Toledo Whitmer 62, Lakewood St. Edward 51

Nigel Hayes and Leroy Alexander combined for 35 points as Toledo Whitmer survived blowing nearly all of a 21-point lead to defeat Lakewood St. Edward in a Div. I semifinal.

The Panthers (23-2) will seek their first title at 8:30 p.m. Saturday against Friday’s winner of the Pickerington Central-Fairfield game.

St. Edward (18-8) tied the Division I state tournament record for fewest points in a quarter when the Eagles trailed 15-2 after the first.

They were behind only 40-37 with seven minutes to play but could get no closer as Hayes and Alexander helped to increase the margin to 12 before it dropped to five briefly.

Myles Hamilton had 24 points for St. Edward before fouling out with about a minute left.

Pickerington Central 60, Fairfield 45

Jae’Sea Tate scored 16 points to lead Pickerington Central to the state title game.

Carls LeVert contributed 13 points while Javon Bess netted 10.

For Fairfield, Devon Barlow led with 11 points while Brandon Murphy scored 10.