CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Ohio High School Athletic Association boys basketball state tournament tips off Friday in Dayton. But three hours away, excitement is brewing as two schools under one umbrella are making history and pulling for each other at the same time.
In the 1950s, when the state of Ohio took over the land that Lutheran High School used to sit on in order to construct I-90, it prompted the Cleveland Lutheran High School Association to build two separate schools.
That was the beginning of Lutheran High School East in Cleveland Heights and Lutheran High School West in Rocky River.
This weekend, for their first time in their histories, both schools’ boys basketball teams will play in the state final four.
“We’re going down there and both teams are hoping for state championships but, if not, just getting down there at the same time is a real shot in the arm for our community,” said Chris Steinmann, CEO and superintendent for the Cleveland Lutheran High School Association, which oversees both schools.
Lutheran West helps tip off the tournament with the Division II semifinal agaist Dayton Chaminade Julienne on Friday at 10:45 a.m.
On Saturday, Lutheran East plays in the second Division III semifinal game at 2 p.m.
The entire boys state tournament will air live on Spectrum News 1 and on the Spectrum News 1 app.
