Across the nation in high school sports (February)

 

 

Alabama

Vestavia Hills High (6A) and Scottsboro High (5A) each had seven state champions in breezing to state wrestling titles. NHSCA National Sophomores champion Keaton Thompson (135) of Vestavia Hills and National Sophomores finalist Hayden Countryman (152), a junior, won their fourth state titles. Scottsboro twin aces Chase (160) and Kyle Cuthbertson (171), both NHSCA event veterans, became the fourth and fifth five-time state champions in state history, and the third in their own family, joining older brother Michael. Both pinned their way to state titles for the third consecutive year. Kyle finished his career 275-9 and Chase 267-9, putting them second and fourth, respectively, on the all-time national wins list.

 

Alaska

After having a hand in winning three consecutive Alaska Class 1-2-3A state cross-country running titles, sisters Rubye and Denali Foldager of Seward High are following each other to college as well. The sisters are committed to Cal State-Stanislaus to run cross country and track. Rubye Foldager won two state cross-country titles – in 2004 and 2006 – and also placed third and seventh in her career. Denali Foldager won the 2005 state cross-country title to go with a second-, third- and fifth-place showing. She also won a track state title in the 300-meter hurdles. They are the first members of their family to go to college. Cal State-Stanislaus finished fourth at the 2007 Division II women's cross-country championships this season.

 

Arizona

Mesa High (5A Division 1) and Tucson Sunnyside High (5A Division 2) won state wrestling duals titles for the third consecutive year. Senior Paul Garza (119) and junior Raymond Pina (171) won their second titles for Sunnyside and junior Luke Macchiaroli (215) and senior Trevor Stapp (285) both repeated for 5A-1 runnerup Tempe Corona del Sol High, with Stapp pinning all five opponents in a combined 8:56. Tucson Pueblo High (4A Division 1), Cottonwood Mingus High (4A Division 2), Safford High (3A) and Camp Verde High (A-2A) also won team crowns. Winning their third state titles: seniors Diego Bencomo (189) of Glendale Independence High, Mike Guerrero (189) of Eloy Santa Cruz High and Damien Baca (171) of Camp Verde and Mingus junior Josh Chang (135).

 

Arkansas

Siloam Springs High’s girls basketball team (20-6) hasn’t been to the Class 5A state tournament in some time, but the Lady Panthers advanced with a 78-61 victory over Paragould Greene County Technical High. Siloam Springs jumped out to an 11-2 lead in the game’s first four minutes, capped by a 3-pointer from freshman Maci Lewis. They shot 69 per cent from the field in the opening half, including 6 of 8 three-pointers, built a 21-point lead and rolled against the three-time state semifinalist Lady Panthers. Lewis scored eight of her 10 points in the first quarter and Kacie Larkin (23 points), Anna Markovick (17 points) and Allison (12 points) carried the scoring load after that. Tech’s Elisa Diggs led all scorers with 27 points.

 

California

                In his first official at-bat of the season, Manteca East Union High's Teddy Anderson turned the first pitch he saw into his first home run - a towering three-run shot over the left-center fence. Anderson banged out another homer in the sixth, finishing 2-for-3 with two runs scored and four RBIs, but it wasn't enough in a 10-7 loss to Tracy High (3-0). Tracy added five more runs in the top of the seventh but the game was called because of darkness. Anderson’s first home run was East Union’s only hit against Tracy starter Daniel Heefner, who struck out four and walked two in four innings. Ryan Scornaienchi was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs to lead Tracy. Leadoff hitter Stevie Ramos was 2-for-5 with a two-run triple in the second.

 

Colorado

Cherry Creek High School boys basketball coach Mike Brookhart will be doing double duty next season for the Bruins. Brookhart also will be the school’s football coach. Brookhart is a former Cherry Creek quarterback who led the Bruins to the state semifinals in 1978. He also was an assistant under former Bruins football coaches Fred Tesone and Mike Woolford. Brookhart also was athletic director at Littlton Heritage High from 1994-96, serving as offensive coordinator under coach Mike Griebel. Brookhart’s basketball team (15-8) is the No. 3 seed in the Glenn Wilson Region. The Bruins have a first-round bye and will host the winner of the Mitchell-Loveland game at 7 p.m. Friday.

 

Connecticut

Danbury High won its record 12th consecutive Class LL team title, 296-159 over Woodbridge Amity High. Senior Dean Smith (152) won his second title to pace four state champions for the Hatters, who will try to win an eighth consecutive State Open team title. Senior Richard Perry (215) was the only champion among five finalists, but Middletown High (177.5 points) already had its second L team title in hand over Berlin High (164), New Milford High (160.5) and Madison Daniel Hand High (159). Ledyard High also repeated in M, 200-176 over Willimantic Windham High as seniors C.J. Satti (140) and Julian Hightower (189) and sophomore Shane Sullivan (145) won titles. Jewett City Griswold High senior Tyler Banks (130) won his third Class S title, but Danielson Killingly High took the team title.

 

Delaware

Georgetown Sussex Central High ended Camden Wyoming Caesar Rodney High’s five-year championship streak, 33-24 in the finals of the Division 1 state wrestling duals. James Showell (189), Brandon Shultie (112) and Cody Combs (125) had pins and P.J. Barth (145) ended the meet with a clinching 13-1 major decision for the Golden Knights. Trailing 30-27 with three matches remaining, Newark Hodgson Vo-Tech High sandwiched victories from Zach Taylor (135) and John Spence (145) around a major decision from C.J. Harris (140) to rally past Frankford Indian River High, 37-30 to capture its ninth consecutive Division 2 duals title. Spence’s victory was the 100th of his career.

 

Florida

Scotti Sentes (125) of Fort Myers Riverdale High, third in the NHSCA National Juniors Championships a year ago, was dominant in winning his fourth Class A state wrestling title. Sentes pinned all four opponents in a combined 8:05 and finished the season 51-0, leading five state champions. Riverdale breezed past Jupiter Christian School 185-83 for the team title. Brandon High outscored defending A champion Naples Palmetto Ridge High 232.5-174 in 2A and Homestead South Dade High made it look easy in 3A, 189-111.5 over Kissimmee Osceola High. Seniors Rodrigo Baez (135) of South Dade and Richie Dehnz (145) of Palmetto Ridge and Brandon junior Eric Grajales (130) won their third state crowns.

Georgia

Junior Mykala Walker scored 22 points, including her team's first 11 points in the decisive fourth quarter, as Duluth High (20-9) defeated Lilburn Parkview High 51-37 to reach the Class 5A semifinals for the first time in school history. With her team ahead by one point after three quarters, Walker hit two free throws in between two field goals to put the Wildcats up 35-28, and her off-balanced bank shot, coupled with another free throw pushed the lead to 38-28. Later, Walker's scoop shot gave Duluth a 44-29 and essentially put the game away. Ravven Brown scored 12 points and Alex Shaw added 11 for Duluth, which held Parkview point guard Sczeny Hartry to eight points and no assists.

 

Hawaii

Stevie Austin of Honolulu Moanalua High, who averaged 22 points in three state tournament games, was named Athlete of the Week by the Honolulu Advertiser. Moanalua upset top-seeded Honolulu Iolani School in the state quarterfinals, the first time the tournament’s No. 1 seed had failed to advance to the semifinals since the state tournament expanded to 12 teams in 1983. One of the state's top point guards, Austin, a senior, scored 25 points in a first-round win over Ewa Beach Campbell High, then hit five 3-pointers and finished with 23 points against Iolani. In a semifinal loss to Honolulu Kamehameha School, Austin overcame three first-half fouls to finish with 18 points.

 

Idaho

Eagle High’s height will be matched against Coeur d’Alene High’s speed in the Class 5A boys basketball state semifinals. Eagle (19-5), whose entire starting lineup stands six feet or taller, defeated Boise Centennial High 61-46 in the quarterfinals as 6-foot-4 senior forward Mitch Bruneel scored a game-high 17 points. Bruneel led the 5A Southern Idaho Conference in scoring with an average of 23.1 points per game. Sophomore guard Devon Austin came off the bench to score a game-high 17 points for Coeur d’Alene (21-2), which has won 11 straight. Senior guards Nate Clinton and Andrew Prohaska, the Inland Empire Conference’s co-Players of the Year, combined for 17 points in a 52-44 quarterfinal victory over Rexburg Madison High.

 

Illinois

                Two of the nation’s top three 171-pound wrestlers met in the Class AA state semifinals, with Jordan Blanton of Richmond-Burton High rallying from a 6-2 first-period deficit to beat Chris Spangler of Naperville Neuqua Valley High 10-8 in a match that brought a standing ovation. Blanton went on to win his third state title and first in AA. Carol Stream Glenbard North High crowned three state champions. Junior Tony Ramos (125) won his second title and was joined by senior brother Vince (145) at the top of the podium, with junior Jimmy Chase (130) also winning. Orland Park Carl Sandburg High’s Conrad Polz (160) and Dakota High junior Seth Milks (119) won their third titles and seniors B.J. Futrell (112) of Chicago Mount Carmel High and Garrett Goebel (285) of Lombard Montini High also repeated.

 

Indiana

Seven defending state wrestling champions entered this year’s state tournament, and four were even more dominant the second time around. Junior Josh Harper (125) of Mishawaka High and senior Andrew Howe (160) Cedar Lake Hanover Central High won their third state titles and Cooper Samuels (171) of Floyds Knobs Floyd Central High and Chico Adams (285) of Indianapolis Perry Meridian High all repeated as champions and finished the season unbeaten. Senior Brennan Cosgrove (145) of Hobart High, a two-time state runnerup, also won easily. The combined record of the five: 234-0. When the scene shifted to the dual state meet, it was Evansville Mater Dei High who took center stage, winning its third straight crown.

 

Iowa

Iowa City West High crowned four individual state wrestling champions, but Waverly-Shell Rock High overcame that tournament power with balance, winning the Class 3A individual title 225-140.5. Senior Nate Moore (125), sophomore brother Nick (140), junior Derek St. John (145) and senior Grant Gambrall (171) all won their second state titles for Iowa City West, but Waverly-Shell Rock had four champions, including their own brother combination, Jake sophomore Jake (119) and senior Mark Ballweg (135), and seniors Dylan Wrage (189) and Eric Thompson (285) also won as the J-Hawks placed 11. The other team races also were not close, Huxley Ballard High dethroning Creston High 181.5-139 (AA) and Gilbertville Don Bosco High repeating in A.

Kansas

Wichita Northwest High (9-12) played a nearly perfect final period to beat host Maize High 52-47 in the Class 6A boys basketball sub-state semifinals. Northwest made all five fourth-quarter shot attempts and hit 14 of 16 free throws. Alex Williams, who finished with 15 points, made 8 of 10 free throws in the period. It was quite a turnaround after shooting just 27 per cent the first three quarters. John Bridges led Northwest with a game-high 17 points. The victory advanced Northwest to the sub-state final against Wichta Heights High (15-6), which beat Topeka High 85-77 as Kelton Marshall (20 points) led five scorers in double figures. Maize (10-11) was led by Brett Soft, who scored 13 points.

 

Kentucky

Morganfield Union County High became the ninth team to repeat as state wrestling team champion, 202-168 over Union Ryle High. Senior Mitchell Ervin (160) won his second title and senior Jarvis Elam (103) also won for the Braves. Ryle seniors Bryan Peace (140) and Mason Reid (171) and junior Harrison Courtney (145) of Versailles Woodford County High, third in the NHSCA National Sophomores tournament a year ago, repeated at the same weights they won last year. The tournament’s biggest upset came in the 112-pound final, where senior Corey Spencer of Paintsville Johnson Central High stunned three-time defending state champion Travis Sullivan of Monticello Wayne County High, 3-2.

 

Louisiana

In past years, Baton Rouge Catholic High has looked up at the state’s traditional Division 1 wrestling powers, New Orleans Brother Martin High and New Orleans Jesuit High. No longer. Catholic took the state tournament, 214-210 over Jesuit, with Brother Martin (199) finishing third. Catholic trailed Jesuit by nine points entering the finals, but back-to-back titles from junior Blake Savoie (112) and senior Alex Hurst (119) tied the score and senior Trent Fresina (152) won to give Catholic the crown as both Jesuit finalists lost. Lafayette Northside High edged Marrero Archbishop Shaw High 236-229 in Division 2 and Brusly High breezed to the Division 3 crown.

 

Maine

Defending champion Josh Eon’s pin in the 171-pound final gave Waterboro Massabesic High its second straight Class A team wrestling title, 151.5-147.5 over North Berwick Noble High. 151.5-147.5 to repeat as Class A wrestling team champion. Sophomore Matt DelGallo (112) of Gardiner High, the Outstanding Wrestler in Class B last season, was voted the Class A OW after scoring a technical fall over defending champion Dalton Groeger of Standish Bonny Eagle High. Chris Smith (119) of Portland Deering High and Jon Hussey (160) of Eliot Marshwood High won their fourth state titles in Class A and Jerod Rideout (160) of Dover-Foxcroft Foxcroft Academy won his fourth Class C crown.

 

Maryland

Owings Mills McDonogh School repeated as independent state wrestling team champion, 317-220.5 over Baltimore Mount St. Joseph High. Senior Josh Fitch (140) won his fourth state title, with sophomore Nick Schenk (119) and junior Curtis Holmes (145) winning their second titles. Junior Andrew Bannister (125) of Forestville Bishop McNamara High won his third title. Both No. 1 seeds were upset in the semifinals of the state dual-team tournament, with Hampstead North Carroll High stunning defending 4A-3A champion La Plata High 30-28 and Glenelg High nipping Oakland Southern Garrett High 34-33 in 2A-A. North Carroll and Glenelg went on to win titles.

Massachusetts

The loss of their top wrestler via transfer didn’t keep Lowell High from repeating as Division 1 state wrestling team title in a romp. Lowell’s three champions, seniors Brandon Gauthier (112) and Evan Connors (140) and junior Christian McCarthy (125), were the most in Division 1, but the other schools had the stars. John Sughrue (130) of Methuen High won his fourth division title and fellow seniors Kenny Anderson (119) of Billerica Memorial High and Tim Rich (135) of Chelmsford High won their third titles, George Hargrove (171) of Springfield Central High also repeated and two-time state runnerup Ronnie Tetrault (152) of Ludlow High was voted the Outstanding Wrestler.

 

Michigan

Romulus High (19-3) beat Westland John Glenn High 65-44 to earn a Class A district boys basketball championship. Devin Pankey scored eight of his game-high 19 points in the first quarter as the Eagles raced to a 19-5 lead. Romulus extended the lead to 33-15 at halftime and led by 16 entering the fourth quarter. Glenn (19-3) cut the lead to 11 before senior point guard Dominique Buckley, committed to Iowa State, responded with his only two buckets of the game and followed with an assist as Romulus put the game away with nine straight points. Romulus’s losses all have been to Michigan powerhouses: Saginaw High, Saginaw Arthur Hill High and Birmingham Detroit Country Day School.

 

Minnesota

Senior Gretta Hjelseth, the all-time leading scorer in Nevis High girls basketball history, reached another scoring milestone last Saturday against rival Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High, hitting a three-pointer midway through the third quarter to surpass 2,000 career points. Hjelseth finished with a team-high 21 points, but Nevis (14-9, 7-5) fell to third place in the Northwoods Conference in a 53-41 loss, their sixth in their last eight games. Paige Walters added nine points and Mandy Allman seven for Nevis. Molly Bergmann led the visiting Wolves to the win with 23 points and 17 rebounds. Hjelseth, who has battled through knee and back injuries this season, is averaging 28 points per game.

 

Missouri

Kansas City Oak Park High won its eighth straight Class 4 state wrestling team title, with junior Mac Bailey (130) and senior Dylan Joiner (145) winning their third state titles and senior Brent Haynes (189) also repeating. Twin brothers Nick (135) and Matt Lester (140), both juniors, won for Eureka High and Kansas City Park Hill High sophomore Alan Waters (112) won his second title. Trailing Oak Grove High and Excelsior Springs High by 10 points entering the Class 2 finals, Monett got titles from sophomore Ethan Davis (119), junior two-time state champion Kellen Bounous (140) and junior three-time state Kyle Meyer (145) to win 103-99. Kearney High’s Colin Pierce (130) and Brookfield High’s Tyler Holloway (135) won their fourth state titles.

 

Montana

Kalispell Flathead High set three state records last year – and broke all three this year. Flathead’s 410 points shattered last year’s 325, and broke AA records with 10 state finalists and 18 state placewinners, exceeding last year’s totals by one. Senior Brian Ham (135) won his second title as Flathead crowned five champions. Havre High (A) and Glasgow High (B-C) also repeated as champions. Ryan Leonard (130) of Cascade-Simms High became the state’s 16th four-time state champion. Winning their third titles: seniors Zach Mendenhall (140) of Great Falls High and Jared Rohrback (215) of Great Falls Charles M. Russell High in AA and Scott Schlosser (119) of Conrad High in B-C.

Nebraska

Senior Tyler Sackett (130), an NHSCA National Juniors finalist, won his fourth state title, seniors Quintin Cottle (135) and Tyler Kottas (145) won their third titles, and juniors Zach Cottle (103) and Matt Katusin (125) won their second titles as Omaha Skutt High breezed to yet another Class B state team title. The Skyhawks have racked up 19 individual state titles the past three years. Omaha Millard South High repeated as Class A champion, Madison High prevailed in Class C and Howells High, led by junior three-time state champion Bryan Mejstrik (140), repeated in Class D. Senior Zach Adams (119) of Norfolk Catholic High also won for the third time.

 

Nevada

Speedsters Ashley Mosley and Bethanie Skelton hooked up on the game's only goal as Las Vegas Centennial High beat Henderson Green Valley High 1-0 for the Southern Nevada girls soccer championship. Riley Bassett chipped a pass over the top of the Gators' defense to start the play. Mosley beat a defender and the Green Valley goalkeeper to the ball inside the box, and she rolled a pass in front of the net for Skelton, who netted the point-blank shot in the game's 26th minute. Goalkeeper Jenna Riddle made four saves to record her fourth postseason shutout. Green Valley, which outscored its opponents 17-1 en route to the Sunrise Region championship, fell in the Southern Nevada title game for the third straight year.

 

New Hampshire

Top-seeded Gilford High’s girls basketball team couldn’t hang on to a 10-point first-half lead and fell 75-56 to Litchfield Campbell High in the Class M state semifinals. After falling behind 20-10 early in the second quarter, the Cougars blitzed Gilford 53-24 over the next two-plus quarters to build a 63-44 cushion in the fourth quarter, then hit seven straight free throws down the stretch. Gilford, which finished 18-3 after winning its first 18 games to start the season, was led by Lindsay Carr, who scored 16 points, and Samantha Watterson, who added 12. Campbell led 34-33 at halftime behind the scoring of Meghan Sweeney (24 points), Lindsay Delude (14 points) and Kristen Hrubowchak (13 points).

 

New Jersey

                Host Cresskill High’s girls basketball team rallied from a 14-point deficit for a 44-31 victory over No. 6 seed Park Ridge High in the quarterfinals of the North 1 Group 1 tournament. Sophomore Carly Cerone tied a career high with 24 points to lead the third-seeded Cougars to the semifinals against Butler High. Despite committing 17 first-half turnovers, Cresskill trailed by just four points after Floriana Borova drilled a three-pointer as the halftime buzzer sounded. Cresskill took over the game in the second half, scoring the first 15 points of the third quarter, 10 coming from Cerone, to take a 32-21 lead. Jamie Kalafut led Park Ridge with 15 points.

 

New Mexico

The Albuquerque St. Pius High boys and girls basketball teams claimed titles in the District 5-4A tournament. The boys (22-5) routed Albuquerque Academy 62-37 to capture its first regular season-district tournament sweep in six years. Chris Johansen led all scorers with 18 points and 11 rebounds. He also had three blocked shots as he closed within 26 points of setting the program record for career scoring. Paul Jessen added 11 points and John Ramirez 10. The girls team (25-2) broke open a tight game by outscoring Albuquerque Del Norte High 30-15 in the second half for a 53-35 win. Mary Rose Paiz and Courtney Tinnin each had 14 points for the Sartans and Caitlin Boal added 13.

 

New York

Binghamton Chenango Valley High survived a wild final minute to beat Lansing High 49-46 for the Section 4 Class B boys basketball championship. Five-foot-eight senior Chris Mack, who had missed his previous seven three-point attempts, put his team ahead to stay at 44-43 on a trey with 1:30 remaining. The final minute featured four steals – two by each team – a pair of Mack free throws and another by Andy Fox that helped the Warriors seal their 15th win in 16 games. Their defense held 6-foot-4 Lansing forward Teagan Barresi to seven points, 15 below his average. Matt Mullins led Chenango Valley with 13 points and 6-foot-2 Matt Bobal, an All-State football lineman, added 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

North Carolina

Cary High (4A), Winston-Salem Parkland High (3A) and Hillsborough Orange High (2A) rolled to team titles in the dual and individual state wrestling tournaments. Cary, coached by 2007 NHSCA National High School Coach of the Year Jerry Winterton, completed a 30-0 dual season by beating Mocksville Davie County High 40-27 for its seventh duals title. Parkland also finished a perfect season at 39-0, pounding Eden John M. Morehead High 59-6 to repeat as champion, while Orange got past Newton-Conover High 29-25 for the 2A crown. In the Class A dual championship, Sparta Alleghany High made it five straight crowns by beating Hampstead Topsail High 37-28, their third straight finals victory over Topsail.

 

North Dakota

Despite going without a field goal for the game’s final 4 minutes and 15 seconds, Fargo Shanley High advanced to the Class A East Region girls basketball title game with a 41-37 victory over Grand Forks Red River High. Jessica Pollard’s free throw gave Shanley a 40-29 lead with 3:46 remaining, but the Roughriders rallied as three-pointers by Katie Johnke (game-high 11 points), Rachel Black and Andi Wheeler cut the lead to 40-38 with 1:23 left. Defense dominated as Red River shot just 26 per cent from the field and scored only 16 points in the first half, while Shanley scored just 16 points in the second half. Reserve guard Molly Brenner (nine points) led the Deacons in scoring for the second straight game.

 

Ohio

Huntington High out-rebounded Williamsport Westfall 47-17 and remained unbeaten in the Scioto Valley Conference at 7-0 with a 73-57 victory over a team which had out-rebounded every opponent this season. With the game tied at 14 after the first period, Huntington opened the second on a 16-0 run, with Josh Kellough scoring 10 of his game-high 27 points during the run. Brother Justin Kellough scored seven of his 21 points as the Huntsmen went on a 15-5 run after halftime to pull ahead 53-31. Bobby Sams’ trey gave Huntington its largest lead at 60-37 early in the final quarter. Bryant Gibson scored 17 points to lead Westfall and Travis Burleson added 13.

 

Oklahoma

Fort Cobb-Broxton High's girls basketball team advanced to its first state championship game since 1969, stunning top-ranked Preston High 66-57 in the Class A state tournament semifinals. Preston returned all starters from a team that went 29-1 last year and played in the past two Class AA title games. .

Autumn Klugh scored a game-high 27 points and led a 25-point first-quarter onslaught for Fort Cobb-Broxton (30-1), Katie Tilley scored 15 points and Addy Klugh, Autumn’s sister, added 11. Savannah Hamilton led Preston with 21 points and tied the game at 49-49 with five minutes to play, but the Pirates never led.

 

Oregon

Hermiston High’s girls basketball team (18-4, 11-0) stayed unbeaten in the Intermountain Conference, pounding The Dalles Wahtonka High for the second time in a week, 83-39. Point guard Shoni Schimmel scoring over 30 points in both games. Leading 16-11 late in the first quarter, Hermiston stretched the lead to 32-16 at halftime before pulling away in the second half. Schimmel scored 33 points and had seven assists and six steals, and was backed up by Sarah VonArx (11 points, eight rebounds) and Michelle Coombs (nine points, seven rebounds). As a team, Hermiston had 21 steals and 16 assists. The Bulldogs also beat Wahtonka 90-40 a week ago.

 

Pennsylvania

With back-to-back title district title wins, State College High’s Steve Bosak (160) and Wingate Bald Eagle Area High’s Quentin Wright (171) became the 14th and 15th four-time wrestling champions in District 6 history, and only the fourth and fifth from Centre County. Bosak won his title with a 9-0 major decision over Bald Eagle Area’s Caleb Hoffman and Wright pinned Johnstown’s Will Harris. The other Centre County champions: Bellefonte High’s Mitchell Port (112) and Shane Alterio (145), Philipsburg-Osceola High’s Bo Reifer (189) and Dimitri Sidorick (215) and Bald Eagle Area’s Tim Watson (285). Mill Hall Central Mountain High won the team title, 226-200 over Bellefonte.

 

Rhode Island

Warwick Bishop Hendricken High moved a step closer to becoming only the second Division 1 boys basketball team to win five consecutive state championships with a 61-44 victory over Pawtucket St. Raphael Academy. Powered by tri-captain Brendan Degnan (19 points, 8 rebounds, 7 steals), junior guard Billy Baron (19 points), sophomore guard Nick Manning (10 points), and junior center Matt Barboza (6 points, stellar defense), the Hawks jumped out to an 11-2 lead and never looked back. The Hawks defense held 6-foot-7 center Jeffrey Holmes to 12 points – 10 below his average – and eight rebounds. Junior guard Avery King led the Saints with 13 points.

 

South Carolina

Hopkins Lower Richland High (26-0) sweated out three missed free throws after the final buzzer and hung on for a 47-45 victory over Roebuck Dorman High that capped an undefeated season, a third consecutive Class 4A girls basketball championship and a 44-game winning streak. The Diamond Hornets took a 10-point third-quarter lead, only to see Dorman cut the lead to 47-44. The victory was just the fifth this season for the Diamond Hornets by fewer than 10 points. Three came in the playoffs. They have not lost to an in-state team since January 2006. Morgan Stroman led Lower Richland with 13 points, while Fannie Goodwin added 12 points and Stephanie Hayes 10. Dorman’s Danielle Gibson led all scorers with 14 points.

 

South Dakota

Seniors Scotty Deal and Trevor Lopour combined for 47 points to lead host Fort Pierre Stanley County High to a 62-55 victory over McLaughlin High during the first round of the District 12A boys basketball tournament. The Buffs took advantage of a 10-0 run in the second quarter to take a 30-26 halftime lead. Lopour started the run with just a little more than two minutes left to play in the half. Zach Alexander found Deal under the basket and the Buffs continued to dominate. McLaughlin closed within 44-41 at the end of the third quarter and tied the game at 51-51 in the fourth before Deal, who scored 24 points, put up back-to-back baskets to give the Buffs the lead for good. Julian Defender led McLaughlin with 23 points.

 

Tennessee

Two days after lighting up Gallatin Station Camp High for 49 points, Livingston Academy guard Chase Dunn worked to get his teammates involved in a 70-52 victory over White House High in the Region 4-2A boys basketball championship game. Dunn finished with 23 points and T.J. Smith added 16 for the Wildcats, who won a region title for the first time since 1997. Rogers Gaines had 14 points to pace White House, which enjoyed its last lead, 13-11, in the first quarter. White House never got closer than seven points in the second half. Dunn answered a White House 6-0 spurt in the third quarter with five consecutive points to push the lead back to double figures. Despite committing eight turnovers in the fourth quarter, Livingston Academy (28-4) won its 19th straight game.

 

Texas

Floydada High’s boys basketball team, playing in the first regional tournament in school history, took advantage of the opportunity, scoring the first nine points of the game and beating Comfort High 62-47 Region 1-2A semifinals. Payte Beedy led all scorers with 17 points and got the Whirlwinds going early, converting a three-point play, draining a 3-pointer and scoring on a reverse lay-up in the first four minutes to give Floydada a 9-0 lead. Kody Smith added 11 points for the Whirlwinds. Comfort pulled within 35-32 in the third quarter, but Beedy scored on a baseline drive and was fouled behind the arc on the next possession. The senior made all three free throws for a 40-32 lead. Juan Rodriguez and Patrick Simmons scored 13 each to lead Comfort.

 

Utah

                Brandon Davies, a 6-foot-8 post player, led Provo High to the Class 4A boys basketball state finals, scoring 26 points on 10-for-12 shooting, 6-for-6 in the first half, and had nine rebounds to go with two big blocks during a decisive third quarter as the Bulldogs beat Hyrum Mountain Crest High 56-44. Leading by a single point at halftime, Provo pulled away with 10 straight points in the third quarter, turned it into a 15-0 run and held Mountain Crest to just two free throws in the quarter. Mountain Crest, which led by as many as six in the second quarter, missed all seven of its field goal attempts in the third and shot just 18 percent from the field in the second half to Provo's 69 percent. Kyson Koop and Kyle Collinsworth added 12 points each for Provo, trying for its 17th boys basketball crown.

 

Vermont

Bennington Mount Anthony High won its record 20th consecutive state wrestling team title. The Patriots more than doubled the score of unnerup Jericho Mount Mansfield Academy, 290.5-140, and had seven individual champions. Senior Scott Legacy II (130) won his third state title, seniors Jacob Shortt (119), Matt Parisi (140) and Matt McVay (189) and junior D.J. Legacy (152) each won their second titles as 11 Patriots advanced to the state finals. Mount Mansfield’s Robert Hamlin (171) won his fourth state title, scoring a technical fall in the finals, and junior Jordan Gray (103) of Essex Junction High also won his second state crown.

 

Virginia

Unbeaten Virginia Beach Princess Anne High (28-0), paced by 6-foot-4 freshman Elizabeth Williams’ triple-double and 23 points from Raven Harris, saw most of a 23-point third-quarter lead slip away, but held on for a 64-54 victory in the Group 3A Eastern Region girls basketball semifinals. Williams scored 11 points and added 16 rebounds and 11 blocked shots. But Lake Taylor (23-4) rallied behind its own pair of freshmen, Jasmine Cuffee and Toia Giggetts. Cuffee scored all 16 of her points, including three 3-pointers, while Giggetts poured in 10 of her 14 in the half as the Titans pulled within six. But Princess Anne recovered by scoring on six consecutive possessions.

 

Washington

Federal Way High advanced to the Class 4A boys basketball state championship game, rallying from a third-quarter deficit for the third consecutive game to beat crosstown rival Decatur High 69-60 in overtime. Seattle University recruit Aaron Broussard led Federal Way with with 29 points, 14 rebounds and three steals. The 6-foot-5 senior connected on 9 of 18 shots and 11 of 14 free throws. Junior Andre Barrington also was big for the Eagles, racking up 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals as Federal Way beat Decatur for the third time in four meetings this season. The game featured 14 lead changes in the first three quarters. Senior Marcus Tibbs led Decatur with 22 points.

 

West Virginia

Aaron Dobson turned in 23 points and four steals to propel top-ranked South Charleston High (21-1) past Charleston George Washington High 61-46 victory in Class AAA sectional play. The Black Eagles never trailed in winning their 19th straight game, building leads as large as 19 points in the first half and 21 in the second half. South Charleston had its problems, shooting just 23 per cent from the field and 42 pre cent from the foul line in the second and third quarters. But Dobson scored 15 points in the first half as the Black Eagles built a 32-15 halftime lead. Glenn Self led the Patriots (15-8) with 22 points despite sitting out most of the first half with foul problems.

 

Wisconsin

Matt Clarke scored 17 points on eight-for-13 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Appleton East High (19-4) past Kaukauna High 57-47 in the Division 1 boys basketball sectional semifinals. But the Patriots nearly let the Grey Ghosts back in the ballgame, shooting just 50 per cent (11 of 22) from the free-throw line in the final quarter. Advancing to meet Appleton East was conference rival Green Bay Bay Port High  (20-2), which was lights out from the line in a 62-51 victory over Green Bay Ashwaubenon High. The Pirates shot 91 per cent (19 of 21). Cole Meyer, a 6-foot-5 senior forward, had a game-high 21 points, 13 of them at the line.

 

Wyoming

Lusk Niobrara County High upset previously-unbeaten Kinnear Wind River High 68-64 in overtime in the semifinals of the Class 2A boys basketball state tournament. Although Wind River led early in overtime, Lusk (23-3) scored six straight points and baskets by Taylor Johnson and Derek Asche and a pair of free throws from Ben Hanson, to finally take control. Leithaniel Peahrora finished with 22 points for Wind River (28-1), which made just seven of 41 three-point attempts – a 17 per cent percentage. Lusk, which will try for its fourth state title overall and its first since 1992, plays Sundance High, which beat Lusk 65-53 in the East Regional championship the previous week.