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Jared Sullinger and Northland advance to state.

Northland, DeSales Keep Hope Alive --    After a furious weekend of regional tournament action, we're whittled down to just two remaining Central District teams fighting for the elusive dream of a State Basketball Tournament championship title. It was a given that there would be one in Division I, as Northland and Dublin Scioto, both 24-1 entering Saturday night, battled for a berth in the state tournament. The Vikings and Irish gave us overtime angst for the ages with Northland prevailing 54-53 despite former OSU football (now Kansas) recruit Bradley McDougald's 32 points for Scioto. However, it was a future Buckeye who took over -- the one and only Jared Sullinger. Sullinger grabbed 20 rebounds and had 6 blocks and 17 points. Teammate JD Weatherspoon, committed to Xavier, also added 17. Sullinger atoned for missing the Vikings' tournament loss to Westerville South last season when he was disciplined by his father and coach, Satch Sullinger. No such problems this year, as Northland got by local powerhouse Grove City in the regional semi-final Thursday 70-64, despite being down 6 at the half. Scioto had defeated Cincinnati St. Xavier soundly the night before. Northland remains a favorite to win state in the eyes of many (except those set on Cincinnati Princeton), but must first play tough Warren Harding (22-3) on Friday evening at the Schott.  DeSales dominated Division II in the regional tourney to become the only other Central District team to advance to state. The Stallions (22-3) drummed Vermillion by twenty, 84-64, and have won all of their 2009 postseason games by an average of even more. It was a game of fouls and free throws, but Nick Goff and Nick Kellogg each nailed six from the line and had equal point totals of 15. DeSales put in layups all night, and Vermillion could get no closer than ten in the fourth. The Stallions tip off against Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary at the Schott at 2 pm on Friday in a state semi-final. Central Catholic League rival Watterson (15-11) was not so fortunate and failed to make state after it had first defeated AP no.1 St. Paris Graham in OT on Thursday 45-44 on a last second OT trey from Chris Grabosky. Grabosky and the Eagles played close in the regional final against Dayton Thurgood Marshall, but the hero fouled out and sub Zack Riddle just missed a tying jumper leaving the disappointing final at 44-42. Division III and IV hopefuls Grandview and Newark Catholic also fell short of state aspirations but can reflect on extremely successful campaigns this year, each ending with 21 wins and a spot in their respective regional finals. Grandview led its final by 10 late in the fourth quarter but permitted a Piketon comeback that sent the game to overtime and ultimately a 78-72 Bobcat loss.  Newark Catholic acquitted itself well in its regional final but couldn't handle Oak Hill's big inside man, JD Hale, and fell 56-52. Congrats to Grandview, Newark Catholic, Scioto and Watterson on great years, and also to Southeast District state Division II qualifier Logan Elm, which battles Canal Winchester and other local teams in the MSL. We'll check out Logan Elm's success this weekend and of course will bring you the scoop and saga concerning DeSales and Northland! 

Tsunami destroys Harvest in Athens Tuesday

Regional Results -- (3/18) -- The first tally is in, and though it's from the bottom division it's nothing but top notch. That's right, I'm talkin' about the NC, the Green Wave -- the tide, the tsunami that overtook traditional Division IV power Harvest Prep Tuesday night. Alright, I admit it wasn't quite that convincing, but it was quite a statement that upstart Newark Catholic (21-4) held off the Warriors to advance to a rare regional final Friday night at OU against Oak Hill (22-2), which won its semi-final by almost 30. The Green Wave's win was much closer at 48-46. Harvest Prep led 11-8 after one and fought hard at the end with Nehemiah Trotter sinking a bucket and the Green Wave missing two free throws. Incredibly, it was Trotter's only score of the game but Harvest was unable to then get down the floor to get a final shot off. Despite the missed NC free throws, the Green Wave had shown itself adept from the stripe earlier in the quarter, going 6-6 at a crucial stretch. Newark Catholic was led by Matt Dawson with 17 points. 

Jon Smith looks forward to Northland

Division I -- Let's Dance: Top Teams Tango -- The biggest surprise Saturday amongst the big school central district contenders was not the identity of the victors, as they were the consensus top three local teams, but that a potential upset special came so close to fruition. That's what happened when Westerville North came within a trey of top-seeded Northland (23-1) in a 59-56 battle. The Vikings overcame poor free throw shooting and five three pointers by North's Ralph Hill to gain the victory and one of the three local regional spots. OSU recruit Jared Sullinger again was the glue for the Vikings with 17 points and 11 boards.  Northland draws a rough regional semi-final with OCC Ohio stud Grove City (22-2), which trounced OCC Central champ Dublin Coffman 81-52. The matchup on Thursday at 7 pm at the Fairgrounds Coliseum/Expo Center will see heralded stars Sullinger, JD Weatherspoon (Xavier committed) and Trey Burke get tested by 6'7" Greyhound center Jon Smith (St. Louis Billikin signee) and outside threat Ryan Cosgray. Smith ruled Coffman with 26 points, 20 rebounds and 10 blocks. Rebounding will be crucial against Northland, so maybe its a good omen that Cosgray added 9 boards for Grove City, which finished plus 22 in the category. The third spot has no less lustre, but it did not lead to a local matchup, as victor Dublin Scioto (23-1) manhandled last year's state champ Newark by a 68-52 margin. Scioto, which got 29 from guard Bradley McDougald (headed to Kansas for football), will play at the Fairgrounds Wednesday, but will face surprise opponent St. Xavier (14-9) from Cincinnati. Predictions -- I see a Scioto victory, and I've got to play it safe by picking Northland in a close one over Grove City.  

Newark Catholic is moving through the roundball regionals

Division IV -- Roll Tide: Green Wave Shakes the Tree; Bountiful Harvest Time --  The small school district titles are wrapped up and the winners are set to play each other at the Fairgrounds Coliseum (Ohio Expo Center) tomorrow night (Tuesday 3/17) in a regional semi-final. Moving on are Harvest Prep (17-5), a usual suspect in tournament success stories, and newcomer Newark Catholic (20-4), this year's surprise, celebrating its first district title in over 30 years. The Green Wave faithful helped cut down the nets after a 55-37 defeat of a Tree of Life squad that had lost only one game all year. Newark Catholic will find it tougher going still Tuesday, though, when they face Rev. Rod Parsley's world Warriors, who came from behind to beat Brian Hecker and Worthington Christian 68-57. Harvest Prep forced 14 turnovers in the second half and turned around a 12 point halftime deficit. The regional semi-final will pit star Nehemiah Trotter against the Green Wave's Matt Dawson & co, who will have to find a way to stop Trotter's outside shot and penetration. Swami Sez -- Harvest Prep will pour it on early and withstand a furious NC comeback to take this one. But I've been known to be wrong . . . [And so I was again!]

Nick Kellogg is a force for DeSales

Division II -- Stallions' Sweet Redemption -- DeSales is moving on to the OHSAA re gional tournament with one of the two Central District spots for Division II, but the Stallions had to get by Eastmoor Academy when the teams played a third straight district championship Friday night at the Fairgrounds. This time Nick Kellogg and the Stallions got all the glory in a 72-46 win, redeeming their loss to the Warriors in last year's final. This one wasn't close as Eastmoor failed to get a bucket in the first seven minutes of the game. DeSales seemed to be a team hungry for regional play and advances to play Elida (16-8) up in Bowling Green, which all of us homers in the Capital city are sure that DeSales will take handily. Kellogg again led the Stallions, this time with a big time 30 point night. I see DeSales advancing further -- not sure I'll say the same about the second Central District winner from Division II, Bishop Watterson. The Eagles (14-10) pounded Granville 68-42 to advance, but had so many early stumbles this year that they remain an enigma. Unfortunately, they match up with undefeated AP Division II No. 1 St. Paris-Graham at Xavier University next Thursday. I'd love to see Watterson do it, but I have more optimism about DeSales' chances. Congrats go out to both of these Central Catholic League teams, though. Honorable Mention -- It's not technically the Central District, but local boys Logan Elm (23-1) of the Mid-State League are firing it up in the Southeast District and have drawn defending D II state champ Chillicothe in regional action at OU in Athens on Thursday. Logan Elm won the regular season tussle of the two 55-52.

Division III -- The Central Catholic League did not fare so well a division down, as top seeded Hartley failed to advance, dropping a Central District title game to Bloom-Carroll after a disasterous 23-9 fourth quarter. Ben Seifert's 19 for the Hawks could not secure a title, but the Bulldogs got their ninth one for coach Tom Petty with 15 from freshman AJ Ireland. Bloom-Carroll takes on Dayton Christian (20-4) next on Wednesday in Wilmington, and that's a team I will confess I know absolutely nothing about except that they've got veinte in the bag. I will by Wednesday, though, so stay tuned!! The other Central District title in Division III goes to our very own Grandview Bobcats (20-3). I've been hoping for this one all year, frankly, as the Herds hail from 2nd Ave. in the GH. Grandview defeated Highland 42-38 despite no field goals in the final frame but got four crucial Casey Rouch free throws late. The Bobcats will play at OU on Wednesday night.

Tags: basketball, high school basketball, high school sports