Eli Greenberg elevates and scores over Panther defender Elijah McLeod during Centerville’s 58-39 DI State Semifinal win at Dayton’s UD Arena. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Brian Bayless)
For the fourth straight year, Centerville finds itself in a position to take home a trophy. The Elks were state champions in 2021, runner-ups in 2022 and lost in a semifinal a year ago. Next up: A rematch against Cleveland St. Ignatius for all the marbles.
Dayton, OH – Centerville coach Brook Cupps explained his team’s 58-39 win over Toledo Whitmer in a Division I state semifinal Saturday night in rather succinct terms.
“Experience matters,” he said.
Indeed, the fact that the Elks are playing in their fourth straight Final Four pays big dividends on the big stage, especially against a youthful opponent like Whitmer, which hasn’t been here since 2012.
Veteran central Ohio columnist Steve Blackledge writes the OCC and sports at large for Press Pros.
State champion in 2021, runner-up in ‘22, and semifinalist in ‘23, the Elks (20-8) will face Cleveland St. Ignatius (25-3) in the title game at 8:30 Saturday. These opponents are familiar with one another. Centerville hammered St. Ignatius 64-33 in the ‘22 semifinal and lost at home to the Wildcats 94-92 on Jan. 13.
Utilizing a 10-0 run in the first quarter, Centerville led Whitmer virtually the whole way. The Panthers pulled to three early in the third quarter, but the Elks promptly answered with a 13-4 run. “I thought we were really good defensively tonight,” Cupps said. “We were locked in. We did a good job making them take tough shots, and I’m telling you they’re hard to guard.”
Whitmer coach Anthony Stacey echoed Cupps’ remarks. “Coming in, we thought we needed about 10 three-pointers to win tonight,” he said. “Our game is to kick and drive and if you can’t knock down those shots, it’s going to be a long night. In the first half, I thought we had good looks but just didn’t convert. In the second half, they really tightened up their ‘D and made it tough on us.”
Eli Greenburg had 19 points, five assists and four rebounds to lead Centerville. Jamar Montgomery added 14 points and five boards and Xavier signee Jonathan Powell had 10 points and six rebounds.
Elks defender Ethan Greenberg keeps a close eye on Whitmer’s Andre Young III.
The Elks did just about everything right: They shot 54.1 percent from the field, hit 5 of 9 three-pointers and 13 of 16 foul shots, and outrebounded the Panthers 30-19. Defensively, they limited Whitmer to 35.6 percent shooting and just 5 of 23 from beyond the arc.
I was trying to create for everyone, myself included,” Greenburg said.
Stacey said Greenburg, who came in averaging 11.4 points per game, is an X factor of sorts for Centerville.
“He’s under the radar sometimes compared to Powell and (Baboucarr) Njie, but he does a lot for them,” he said. “He sure was the difference in the game tonight.”
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