DAYTON, Ohio — Pickerington Central won an electric Ohio High School Athletic Association boys’ basketball Division I semifinal, beating Centerville 57-53 in a rematch of last year’s championship game, also won by the Tigers.
The tight affair saw ten ties and nine lead changes, with the final one a result of Markell Johnson’s drive in the lane for a 55-53 lead, with less than two seconds left. Gavin Headings stole the ball on the Elks’ inbound attempt and laid it in at the horn for the final four-point margin.
The second half was a back-and-fourth affair with the largest lead only four points. The biggest advantage for the entire game was six for Centerville early on, and five for Pick Central (24-5).
Ohio’s Mr. Basketball Devin Royal, presented with his trophy before the game, was as advertised, leading all scorers with 23 points on nine of 14 shooting. The future Buckeye had plenty of help, with Juwan Turner contributing 16, and Johnson & Headings seven each.
Last year’s Mr. Basketball, Centerville’s Gabe Cupps, did his part, too. He had 22 points and seven assists, and became the school’s all-time leading scorer, passing Ben Rhoda in the process. Emmanuel Deng scored nine, with Jonathan Powell and Baboucarr Njie adding eight each.
The Elks (25-4) shot a remarkable 61% from the floor (on 21 of 39 shooting) and made half (four of eight) of their three-point attempts. The Tigers, meanwhile, made 54% from the floor.
The teams were sharp with several highlight reel dunks, and a wicked crossover into a three-pointer for Turner in the first half.
It all built to the crowd of 8,517 all on their feet in the final riveting seconds, and one of the best high school basketball atmospheres imaginable.
Pickerington Central avenged a 60-54 neutral court loss in Columbus earlier this season to Centerville. Tigers won 55-48 in last year’s Division I championship game.
Pickerington Central will try to pull off the repeat Sunday at 8:30 p.m. in the Division I championship against the winner of Toledo St. John’s and Hoban. The Tigers were also state champs in 2012.
