By TIM STRIED
OHSAA Media Director
DAYTON, Ohio - Canal Winchester Harvest Prep withstood a fourth-quarter rally by Ottawa-Glandorf, making a defensive stop on the final possession to secure a 61-59 win and advance to the Division III state championship game.
Harvest Prep led by 11 points entering the final quarter, but O-G outscored the Warriors 24-15 in the final period and drew within two points five times—and one point once—in final four minutes. On each occasion, however, Harvest Prep answered with a basket or a defensive stop and never relinquished the lead.
Harvest Prep (24-4) advances to its fourth state championship game, having won a Division III state title in 2019 and finishing runner-up in Division IV in 2015 and 2007. Ottawa-Glandorf (24-4) was making its fourth consecutive appearance in the state tournament; the Titans were runners-up in Division III in 2022 and 2023.
Ottawa-Glandorf led 8-3 in the game’s opening minutes, but Harvest Prep finished the first quarter on a 16-6 run and led 19-14 after one period. An 8-0 run by Harvest Prep stretched the lead to 10, 27-17, midway through the second quarter, and the lead was still 10, 31-21, at halftime.
Harvest Prep led 46-35 entering the fourth quarter, but Ottawa-Glandorf opened the period with 12-3 run to draw within 49-47 and set up the back-and-forth finish.
Colin White, named Ohio’s Mr. Basketball earlier in the week, posted 32 points, 13 rebounds, four steals, and five blocked shots for Ottawa-Glandorf. Caden Erford added 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Adonus Abrams had 26 points and six steals for Harvest Prep. Khalil Daniels was also in double figures with 10 points.
Cleveland Heights Lutheran East 63, Camden Preble Shawnee 44
DAYTON, Ohio - Ronald Taylor made five three-pointers and scored 21 points to lead Cleveland Heights Lutheran East to a 63-44 win over Camden Preble Shawnee in the second Division III state semifinal at University of Dayton Arena.
Lutheran East will play in a state championship game for the third time in four years; the Falcons won Division III state titles in their last two championship game appearances in 2021 and 2023.
Preble Shawnee (24-4), making its first appearance in the state tournament, was led by Mason Shrout’s 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Lutheran East scored the game’s first 17 points and never trailed. Preble Shawnee opened the second half on a 14-6 run to draw within 10 points, 37-27, but Lutheran East kept the margin in double figures the rest of the way.
Jesse McCulloch had a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds for Lutheran East, while Anthony Bruce added 10 points.
Brody Morton (16 points) joined Shrout in double figures for Preble Shawnee.
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