sHIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL Boys state championships in Columbus

Division I

Westerville South edges Lima Senior

Westerville South beat Lima Senior 57-55 in the Division I state championship game Saturday night on Jordan Humphrey’s floater in the lane with less than two seconds to play at Value City Arena.

Humphrey led all scorers with 19 points.

The Wildcats (26-4) led most of the way, but Lima Senior tied the game in the final minute on a Rico Stafford layup set up by pass from 2016 Ohio Mr. Basketball Xavier Simpson.

Simpson’s half-court heave at the buzzer following Humphrey’s basket was no good.

Andre Wesson scored 14 points for Westerville South while Simpson led the Spartans (29-1) with 17 points and seven assists.

Ruben Flowers III added 12 and Stafford had 10 for Lima Senior, which was bidding for the first perfect season in Division I since Zanesville in 1995.

Division II

Rackley leads John Glenn to state title

Drew Rackley scored 25 points as New Concord John Glenn beat Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary 76-72 in the Division II state championship game.

Early on the Little Muskies (28-1) looked like they might roll to their first state title against a team that already has six.

John Glenn opened up a 23-9 lead in the second quarter as the Fighting Irish (26-4) missed 16 of their first 17 shots.

But SVSM’s press put the Muskies on their heels, forcing 11 turnovers that led to 13 points in the third quarter, and John Williams put the Irish on top 54-53 with a 3-pointer with 5:56 left in the game.

That was short-lived, though, as Matt Weir made two free throws to put John Glenn back on top for good.

“I knew they were going to hit some shots eventually,” Rackley said. “I knew they were going to make a run and they did in the second half obviously. We just kept telling our guys to stay focused and keep pounding them.”

Division III

Lima CC tops Cleveland VASJ

Tre Cobbs scored 24 points as Lima Central Catholic beat Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph 66-44 in the Division III state championship game.

A crowd of 11,109 watched the Thunderbirds (28-1) dominate after halftime to beat the defending champion Vikings (23-6) in the third consecutive title game matchup between the teams.

LCC led 27-26 at the half then outscored the Vikings 14-4 in the third quarter and 25-14 in the fourth.

Dantez Walton scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Thunderbirds while Ethan O’Connor added 11 points.

Gene Higgins led VASJ with 15 points.

VASJ beat the Thunderbirds 63-50 last year while LCC won the 2014 matchup 64-62.

LCC won its third state title overall. The Thunderbirds were also champions in 2010.

Division IV

Cornerstone romps over Lincolnview

Michael Bothwell scored 14 points as Willoughby Cornerstone Christian Academy routed Van Wert Lincolnview 72-54 in the Division IV state championship game.

CCA outscored Lincolnview 18-6 in the second quarter and never looked back.

Jeremy Owens also had 14 points for the Patriots; Brandon McQueen and Jack Kelsheimer had 13 apiece.

The Patriots (17-12) led by as many as 26 in the second half and became the first Ohio state champion with more than 10 losses.

The Lancers (27-2) entered the state tournament ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press poll and allowing 40 points per game, but CCA passed that mark less than a minute into the third quarter on a Kelsheimer 3-pointer.

Trevor Neate led Lincolnview with 16 points; Austin Leeth and Derek Youtsey each had 10.

Associated Press