Ponitz 47, Fenwick 46:
Carroll senior KETTERING — Stafford Stevens wasn’t certain how to explain an unlikely upset of Alter other than to credit an abundance of high energy.
“I’ve never felt this before,” said Stevens following a stunning 53-42 victory in Wednesday’s Division II sectional semifinals at Fairmont’s Trent Arena. “Everyone was feeding off everybody and the student section was going crazy. We were just firing away and having fun.”
The season-defining win catapults Carroll (11-12) into Saturday’s D-II sectional final against Ponitz at UD Arena, one of three D-II sectional finals. Ponitz advanced by edging Fenwick 47-46 in Wednesday’s second game of the doubleheader.
Stevens tallied a game-high 18 points. He and Eli Ramsey (11 points) were instrumental in taking out Alter’s go-to leader, Dominic Laravie. The Greater Catholic League Co-Ed North Division player of the year, Laravie was saddled with foul trouble throughout and finally left for good with about three minutes left and Alter still within range.
“As a coach, do you play or protect your best player?” Alter coach Eric Coulter said. “We played (Laravie). We would not be in the position we were in in the first place if it weren’t for Dominic Laravie.”
Alter swept Carroll in the regular-season, but by just one point in their last meeting. “Our kids were very focused this week,” Carroll coach Tim Cogan said. “There was no fear. Our guys, I could see it in their eyes. We wanted to play in this game. Our guys wanted to go in this bracket and we wanted another shot at them.”
Alter had bounced Carroll out of the D-II tourney in last season’s sectional final.
Laravie led Alter (19-4) with 14 points. The thirdseeded Knights converted just 6 of 21 free throws. Ja’len Garrett of Ponitz made two free throws with 11.3 seconds left for the game-winning points.
Fenwick’s David Luers followed with a last-ditch shot attempt that rimmed out. He sank to his knees as the final buzzer sounded and was consoled by teammates.
Fenwick appeared destined to rack up another late-season signature win after leading by double-digits late in the first half. In succession, Fenwick had bounced both Alter and Carroll in the last two games of the regular season and trumped that by eliminating Southwestern Buckeye League heavyweight Franklin 55-53 in its tourney opener.
“We didn’t play well in the beginning of the season but we finished real well down the stretch,” said veteran Fenwick coach Pat Kreke, who has guided the Falcons for 28 seasons.
Luers led Fenwick (1311) with 13 points and Pual Blodgett added 10. De’edgar Cooks had 12 points for Ponitz.
It was finally BEAVERCREEK — the Aviators’ time.
Experienced and tournament-tested, the Butler boys bowling team returned their entire roster this season. Five seniors strong, the Aviators were motivated to make history.
And they did just that Wednesday
A strong team effort helped propel the Aviators to their first state tournament berth. The Butler boys posted a 3,812 team score — good for fourth place at the Division I Southwest District tournament at Beaver-Vu Bowl.
“Any one of these eight guys can start,” Butler coach Steve Sacks said. “This is the best team I have ever had.”
The Aviators put three in the top 20 individually with junior Paul Sacks leading the way in ninth place with a 591 series. Senior Nick Hughes (561) and junior Noah Detrick (560) finished 19th and 20th. While individual games helped Butler early, Baker play kept the Aviators in it late as Butler posted the highest single Baker game of the day with 215.
Butler has been close, finishing fifth in 2011, but only the top four D-I teams advanced to state that year.
“I thought, going in, we had a chance, but we had to have a darn good day,” Sacks said. “Everything had to come together.” And it did. Sacks, in his 11th season, credits the GWOC for preparing his Aviators. Of the five teams qualifying to state Wednesday, all but one was a GWOC foe with Centerville, Miamisburg and Wayne advancing. District champion Oak Hills was the only non-GWOC team advancing to state from the district.
“This is the best conference in the state from top to bottom,” Sacks said.
A trip to state wasn’t a thought when Lebanon’s Tanner Roark was a freshman.
“Definitely not,” Roark
One for the books:
1. Alex Rieger, Oak Hills 644 2. David Neal, Mason 635 3. Theon Hill, Wayne 614 4. Max Hennessey, Oak Hills 611 5. Matt Barton, Miamisburg 608 6. Chase Francisco, Oak Hills 604 7. Dylan Dobran, Centerville 599 8. Hunter Schlegel, Fairmont 596 David Neal, Mason 635 Hunter Schlegel, Fairmont 596 Tanner Roark, Lebanon 585 Max Pierson, Northwest 585 Noah Kurtz, LaSalle 581 1. Oak Hills 4,025 2. Centerville 3,912 3. Miamisburg 3,836 4. Butler 3,812 5. Wayne 3,672 said, smiling. “At the end of tryouts, I was averaging 99. I never thought I’d be a 200-average bowler — never.”
Fast-forward four seasons and the Lebanon senior — who now averages 207 and posted the Warriors’ first 300 game this year — joins elite company as a state qualifier. Roark is the second Warriors bowler to do so, joining Nick Crase in 2015.
Singles success:
The first time was the charm for Wayne freshman Theon Hill. The Warriors’ first-year varsity bowler posted a 214-233167–614 to earn a place on the all-tournament team. His third-place finish was the highest among all area bowlers at the district tournament as Oak Hills junior Alex Rieger was first with 644 and Mason senior David Neal was second with 635.
“I was nervous when I first came in, but I got better,” Hill said.
Girls district:
The D-I girls will compete in the district tournament today at Beaver-Vu Bowl starting at 9:45 a.m. The top six teams and six individuals on non-qualifying teams will advance to the state tournament.