Cincinnati Princeton’s high-flying defense shut down this shot attempt by Jayden Reed-Davis, and then stopped Bradley in its tracks just one game short of a state title. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Brian Bayless)
Known for its ability to control tempo and lure opponents into low-scoring battles, Hilliard Bradley fell into an early 14-2 hole and never recovered as Cincinnati Princeton romped to its first championship.
Dayton, OH – There will be a time when Hilliard Bradley’s players, coaches and fans will beam with pride reminiscing about how a young, undersized, tenacious, basketball team embarked on a historic run to the Division I state championship game.
Aptus Wealth Management proudly sponsors the Buckeyes and Central Ohio sports on Press Pros.
There will be a time when Bradley, with only one senior lost to graduation, turns a miserable 59-28 defeat to Cincinnati Princeton Saturday at University of Dayton Arena into bitter resolve or motivation to return to the big stage even better and tougher in 2027 and beyond.
But that probably won’t come any time soon.
Veteran central Ohio columnist Steve Blackledge writes the OCC and sports at large for Press Pros.
“Obviously, it’s disappointing,” Jaguars veteran coach Brett Norris said. “In some ways, our run here probably was a little improbable, but still this stings right now. There will be a time and place to reflect but we can’t begin to process that now.”
This much already was known: Bradley was hardly an offensive juggernaut, rather a team that leaned on its stingy defense and a motion offense featuring guards Kypton Norris and Ben Mirgon. The coach masterfully controlled tempo in order to win a lot of close games in the 40s and 50s. A 44-42 state semifinal win over Pickerington Central was a perfect example.
Only five opponents had scored more than 50 points against Bradley.
When taller, more athletic Princeton raced out to a 14-2 lead, it destroyed Bradley’s hopes of getting another low-scoring battle.
“We never found any rhythm or momentum right from the start,” Brett Norris said. “With the pace they played, they kind of overwhelmed us from the outset. They made it difficult for us. They took our spirit from us.”
Logan Services, with locations in Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus, proudly sponsors your favorite area sports stories on Press Pros Magazine.com.
Princeton’s Amir Phillips seems to defy gravity as he goes up the glass in front of the Jaguar bench.
Things never got any better for the Jaguars, who fell further and further behind the uber-talented and connected Vikings.
Taking an unfortunate cue from fellow Ohio Capital Conference member Westerville North’s woes in a Division II title game defeat earlier in the day, Bradley couldn’t throw it in the ocean. The Jaguars shot just 12 of 41 from the field (29.3 percent) and 3 of 20 from 3-point range (15 percent).
Second-ranked Princeton (25-3) put its tallest players on the perimeter to harass Norris and Mirgon and the ploy worked brilliantly.
“Our game plan was to pressure No. 1 and No. 3 because they like to go through you for pull-ups and dish to open shooters,” Vikings coach Bryan Wyant said. “The thing about it is willingness to defend. In no other level of basketball do you see kids hold the ball that long, but you do what’s best for your program. Our plan was to defend, defend, defend until they turn the ball over or shoot a bad shot. We gave them serious problems. I thought we played some great defense.”
Huffer Chiropractic can help your athlete perform at their best – with offices in Osgood, Jackson Center, Marysville, and Dublin, Ohio.
Bradley, which averaged 58 points per game, had a historically bad offensive day. Not since 1940 had a team in the big-school final four scored this few points. Strangely enough, it was legendary Hall Of Fame football coach Paul Brown’s Massillon Washington Tigers pulling the feat with a 46-14 loss to rival Canton McKinley in a state semi. McKinley then scored just 22 points in a title game defeat.
Princeton’s swarming defense smothered Will Mojica on this shot attempt.
“We could never shoot it well at any level today,” Brett Norris said, “and it’s a game of makes and misses.”
Kypton Norris and Jayden Reed-Davis scored eight points each and Mirgon seven, along with five assists, to pace second-ranked Bradley (25-3), which captured its first regional title in program history.
Meanwhile, Princeton was clicking on all cylinders – just as it did during an impressive semifinal rout of Lakewood St. Edward. The Vikings shot 57.1 percent from the field and 50 percent on 3-pointers.
Amire Gill racked up game-highs of 24 points and seven rebounds, including 10-of-12 field goal shooting. Rognny Santiago Lugo (12 points) became just the sixth player in program history to top 1,000 career points.
“These guys deserve flowers for bringing the first championship back to Princeton,” Wyant said. “We have some incredible young men, on and off the court.”
Kypton Norris watches as Saron Stewart challenges the shot attempt by Princeton’s Amire Gill during first half play.
The Vikings, who also brought up a runner-up trophy in girls basketball, had lost title games in 1972 and 2009.
Jordan Reed-Davis will be the lone senior graduating for Bradley, but Norris said it will be a significant loss because of his defensive prowess and leadership.
“It was a great run,” Reed-Davis said. “Every day we just took things one day at a time. We believed all along, especially because of the guy at the top telling us to do the right things. The makeup of this team was that we believed in each other all of the time. To be truthful, I didn’t think this was improbable at all. We earned everything we achieved.”
But for a team that compiled an 8-15 record the previous season, it truly was a magical season with an unfortunate ending.
“The ride has been a lot of fun, especially knowing the work we put in after last year,” Kypton Norris said. “Every single game, we came out ready to play and we were committed to getting to this point.”
Precision Strip, in Minster, Ohio, is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the OHSAA state finals on Press Pros Magazine.com.