TJ Crumble hits a reverse layup during Lutheran East’s defeat of Columbus Academy in the DV title game in Dayton. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Brian Bayless)
The Vikings’ bid for a perfect season ended with a tight loss to the Falcons, who won their third consecutive state championship.
Dayton, OH – With a seven-member senior class and one of the state’s top returning juniors in Jason Singleton, Columbus Academy wasn’t surprised that it wound up with a perfect regular season and a shot at its first state championship.
That confidence also meant even the staunchest of competition – namely a program coming off back-to-back state championships – wouldn’t be overwhelming.
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Veteran central Ohio columnist Jarrod Ulrey writes the OCC and sports at large for Press Pros
In the first of four state title games Saturday at the University of Dayton, the Vikings went toe-to-toe with Cleveland Heights Lutheran East but ultimately couldn’t find enough answers against a defense as tough as any they’ve faced this season and lost 53-49 for the Division V title.
The Falcons, who won Division III championships each of the past two seasons and have six titles to their credit overall, became the fifth program in Ohio history to win three consecutive state title games.
“We knew because of the senior class that we’d be pretty good, and as the influx of these younger guys came in, there were a couple early practices where the way we shared the ball and the way we picked things up conceptually, we were a little quicker this year,” said coach Jeff Warstler, who guided the program past the district tournament level for the first time in his 13 seasons this winter. “Then you start thinking, ‘Wow, we can be pretty good.’ As the season went along, we’re thinking we might have the ability to go all the way through to the top.”
Jason Singleton poured in 27 points for the Vikings but it wasn’t enough against a now, back-to-back-to-back state champion.
For moments during the matchup with Lutheran East, it looked like the Vikings – who finished 28-1 overall – would complete a perfect season.
The Falcons made just two of 12 from 3-point range during the first three quarters, and despite a 10-0 run early in the third quarter found themselves tied with Academy at 37 heading into the final period.
Lutheran East has one of the state’s top juniors in TJ Crumble, who was a key player in 2023 when it won the state title and then helped Richmond Heights win the Division IV championship last winter, but senior guards Ty Harrison and Dylan Zeigler helped swing the momentum early in the fourth.
Harrison’s 3-pointer with 5 minutes, 9 seconds remaining made it 40-37, and Zeigler made it 45-40 with a 3-pointer with 3:05 to go.
“We put the kids in tough preparation every day in practice, and we prepare to be down in games and to miss shots,” Lutheran East coach Sam Liggins said. “You can’t dictate how many shots you make or miss. These guys never lose confidence because they know they have defense in their back pocket.”
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After Crumble scored on a putback to make it 47-41 with 1:53 remaining, Singleton answered with a short jumper to cut it to 47-43 with 1:37 to go.
Lutheran East, however, stretched the lead to as much as 51-44 on a pair of free throws by freshman guard Chris Hill with 33 seconds left.
Anderson Davis fires off a jumper over Lutheran East defender TJ Crumble
“I really just tried to keep us going and tried to keep fighting through adversity,” Singleton said.
Singleton hit a 3-pointer with 18 seconds to go to cut it to 52-49, but after Crumble made one of two foul shots with 13 seconds left, the Vikings failed to get a good look at the basket during their last possession and the Falcons closed it out.
“I’m proud of our guys for what we accomplished this season,” Warstler said. “We fell a tough short today, but it won’t define us. We lost to a talented and well-coached basketball team. We plan on going back to work with the seniors. It was tough, and I don’t think words do this justice.
“I thought they picked (their pressure) up, but that’s what teams that win the state title do. We knew they were going to bring some traps, and we turned it over a couple times, but I thought we leveled off and weathered the storm. We were still able to execute some things, and I thought they did a great job on us defensively. They made execution difficult, and they hit a couple shots in the zone. There were a couple possessions where they turned it over and we immediately turned it back over.”
Caden Ivery drops in two of his 9-point contribution as the Vikings fall in Dayton.
Singleton, who battled foul trouble during the Vikings’ state semifinal win over Cincinnati Summit Country Day, looked very much like a player on a mission from the get-go.
He made nine of 19 from the floor and finished with 27 points while adding nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Sophomore Caden Ivery added nine points for Academy, which was outrebounded 29-26 and limited to 17 of 39 shooting. Seniors Anderson Davis and Theo Falkenhain each had six points.
Lutheran East had four players in double figures as Crumble had 14 points and to go along with 10 rebounds, eigler scored 13, Hill had 12 and Harrison added 10.
“We came this far and got to 28-0,” Singleton said. “Theo has taken me under his wing and taught me so much stuff. We fought through a lot of adversity, and there were a couple other guys that kept us going and gave us some energy.”
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