AKRON ST. VINCENT ST. MARY 57, DAYTON THURGOOD MARSHALL 46
Akron SVSM used a stingy 2-3 zone defense to hold Dayton Thurgood Marshall to just 31-percent shooting en route to winning its fifth state championship this decade and sixth in the school history. The 2011 Division II State Championship, which was a 57-46 triumph, moves Akron SVSM to second all-time for boy’s basketball state championships.
Both teams started very slow from the field, but SVSM was able to manage a 12-9 lead after the first quarter. The Irish continued to stymie the Cougars in the second quarter with their zone and led 23-18 at halftime. SVSM was able to hold Marshall to just 25-percent (7-of-28) shooting in the first half.
Each team came out of the break scoring easy buckets on the interior and neither team did a good job of stopping penetration. However, the Cougars went dry once again midway through the third period allowing the Irish to grab a 38-28 lead after three quarters.
SVSM extended its lead to 16 in the final frame thanks to some easy buckets from junior Lorenzo Cugini, freshman Victor Dorsey, sophomore Nick Wells and senior Davonte’ Beard.
The Irish defense was good enough in the fourth to hold the lead and seal the win.
Beard had 13 points and four assists for the victors and junior DJ Blanks added nine points and five rebounds off the bench. Wells chipped in six points and five boards off the pine as well. Senior Ricky Johnson put in four points and four rebounds along with six assists.
Jordan Watson returned to the line up for the Cougars following a semifinal game suspension and scored 16 points on just 7-of-22 shooting inlcuding 0-of-10 from 3-point distance. Watson added six rebounds.
Sophomore Mark Alstork and Edmond Early Jr. each scored eight points and Alstork snared six rebounds.
*Player of the Game: Lorenzo Cugini (Akron SVSM) tallied 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds.
*Stat of the Game: Thurgood Marshall was a dismal 1-of-19 from the three-point range.
