In a game featuring evenly matched teams and outstanding coaching, it figured to be and back-and-forth affair. Tri-Village and Antwerp traded runs, before the Patriots ultimately prevailed for a 44-41 win in a Division IV state semifinal.
Tri-Village took control in the second quarter, building a 22-10 lead thanks to a 12-0 run. An enormous basket by Luke Krouse right before the halftime horn cut that lead to 22-14.
The Archers kept the momentum going in the third, scoring the first seven points as part of an 11-0 run to take a 25-24 lead.
Justin Finkbine fueled an 11-0 response with two baskets 10 seconds apart, and the Patriots went up 35-25.
Antwerp then scored the next nine points to pull within one. A Landon Brewer 3 (18 points to lead the Archers) leveled the score at 37. Layne Sarver nailed his own triple on the next possession, giving Tri-Valley the lead for good at 40-37. The senior led all scorers with 20.
The Patriots will try to win a second state title (2015), moving on to play Richmond Heights in the Division IV final. You can see that, and all four boys’ basketball championships, Sunday on Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News App:
10:45 a.m. – Division III Championship: Cincinnati Taft vs. Ottawa-Glandorf
2 p.m. – Division II Championship: Gilmour Academy vs. Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary
5:15 p.m. – Division IV Championship: vs. Richmond Heights
8:30 p.m. – Division I Championship
Join MaryLee Melendez and former Buckeye George Reese for OHSAA Championship Gameday 15 minutes before each game, and then again following for postgame interviews and analysis.
