Tyson Perkins makes an acrobatic move to the hoop to score, but Westerville North’s inefficient shooting, especially in overtime, ended its state title bid. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Brian Bayless)
The Warriors couldn’t hang on to a 15-point lead and lost to Massillon Washington 68-63 in overtime in the Division II state final. It marked the first state basketball championship ever for the Tigers.
Dayton, OH – Throughout back-to-back runs to the Division II state championship game, the Westerville North boys basketball team typically bludgeoned opponents with a lightning-quick fast-break approach, offensive rebounding, and high-scoring prowess.
Aptus Wealth Management proudly sponsors the Buckeyes and Central Ohio sports on Press Pros.
The Warriors seemed on their way to turning that formula into a second consecutive title Saturday at the University of Dayton Arena, but the 15-point lead they held came against an opponent more than capable of answering the call—particularly on defense.
In a matchup of teams that entered with just one loss, Massillon Washington rallied for a 68-63 overtime win and its first state title. The Tigers’ only other appearance in the championship game came in 1937.
Veteran central Ohio columnist Jarrod Ulrey writes the OCC and sports at large for Press Pros
“The credit goes to Massillon,” North coach Shan Trusley said. “What you saw today is typically our formula. We bury teams at some point in the game. Our kids kept playing, but to their kids’ credit, they kept on coming at us. We stopped scoring the basketball for a stretch of time. We went through a cold stretch. You just tip your cap to them.”
North, which finished 26-2 while the Tigers closed their season at 27-1, had only been held under 70 points five other times — including in its only other loss, a 51-49 setback to four-time defending Division V state champ Cleveland Heights Lutheran East in December.
This time, the low offensive output centered around efficiency: North made just 22 of 81 shots from the floor, including going 4-for-28 on 3-pointers. The Warriors even struggled from the free-throw line, going 15 of 25.
In overtime, North missed all 15 of its shots from the field.
“(Having) 81 attempts for us has to be a world record,” Trusley said.
Logan Services, with locations in Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus, proudly sponsors your favorite area sports stories on Press Pros Magazine.com.
After Massillon took a 25-24 lead into halftime, North put itself in position to control the action down the stretch.
Tony Cornett leans into Tiger defender Isaiah Lamp and scores, but the basket was waived off as Cornett was charged with an offensive foul.
The Warriors used a 9-0 run that included a 3-pointer from junior guard Tony Cornett and three layups to build a 45-30 lead with 4 minutes, 8 seconds left in the third period.
The Tigers, however, clawed their way back to 48-40 by the end of the period after a putback basket by Gio Jackson Jr. with 12 seconds to go in the third.
“It was a very physical, highly contested game between two really physical teams,” Massillon coach Josh Hose said. “Once everybody calmed down and settled into a rhythm, they threw a couple haymakers at us and we were down 15. We called timeout and talked about our emotions, our attitude, and our effort, and that we’ve been here before where we’ve been down 14 and 18 points at different times throughout the year. These guys are competitors and fought like heck to beat a really good team. We just needed to catch our breath.”
Huffer Chiropractic can help your athlete perform at their best – with offices in Osgood, Jackson Center, Marysville, and Dublin, Ohio.
Massillon’s run continued into the final period, with senior Jadyce Thigpen scoring on back-to-back layups to give his team a 51-50 lead 3:43 to go.
Damion King comes up with a loose ball in the backcourt.
The Tigers stretched the advantage to 57-51 with 2:12 left in the fourth on a free throw by Thigpen, but the Warriors had an answer.
“I think you saw today the type of character they demonstrated,” Trusley said. “The whole state got to see the way they battled all day. It was a game of ups and downs, and our kids provided a lot of great moments for our community this year, including today. It looked like in the fourth quarter that it was getting away from us, and our kids fought, fought, and fought, to get it back to overtime.”
A putback basket by North junior Damion King cut it to 57-55 with 1:21 left in the fourth, and senior Elijah McCree — the Central District player of the year — scored with 34 seconds to go in the period to tie it at 58.
Dave Arbogast is a proud sponsor of area high school sports on Press Pros Magazine.com.
Jacob Medhane is challenged on his shot beyond the arc.
Warriors senior Jacob Medhane had what potentially would have been a game-winning layup blocked by Xavier Williams with nine seconds to go in the fourth to set up one final shot for Massillon. Braylon Gamble’s 3-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation, however, was off the mark.
The offensive struggles continued into overtime for the Warriors, and a dunk by Jackson with 1:35 gave the Tigers a 64-59 lead.
North got as close as 64-63 on Cornett’s foul shot with 54 seconds to go, but the Warriors missed all four of their shots over the final 30 seconds of overtime.
“I don’t think it was anything they did,” McCree said. “They threw guys at us, but it was one of those things where we missed shots we should have made. Everybody saw we had a 15-point lead, and we had the momentum. We went on our run and we usually bury teams, and I didn’t think they’d be able to stop us but unfortunately it didn’t work out that way.”
Elijah McCree floats a shot up and over Tiger defender Braylon Gamble.
Jackson led Massillon with 17 points on 8-for-11 shooting, with Thigpen and Williams both scoring 15.
McCree finished with 21 points and six rebounds but made just three of 15 from 3-point range and 8-for-27 overall.
Cornett had 15 points and King added 12 points and 17 rebounds for the Warriors, who were looking to become the first central Ohio program since now defunct Columbus Wehrle from 1988-90 to win consecutive titles.
“What these kids accomplished is not normal,” Trusley said. “Most kids who play basketball don’t get to experience something like this. To do it two years in a row, to get back to a state championship game, it’s special, and it’s a reflection of our kids and all the hard work they’ve put into this. This loss doesn’t define who we are. The effort is what defines who these kids are. The resilience defines who these kids are.
“This has been an incredible experience for the kids and the coaches and the community. The school got to do it twice, which just rallies everybody together and creates moments for people. We’re just blessed at Westerville North. We had younger kids who were along for the ride this year, and that makes them want to work harder on their game. It sort of feeds itself.”
Precision Strip, in Minster, Ohio, is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the OHSAA state finals on Press Pros Magazine.com.