Orange, Africentric, Harvest Prep win regional semifinals
Asked to rate the start of Wednesday night’s Division I regional semifinal on a 1-to-10 scale, Olentangy Orange boys basketball coach Anthony Calo flashed a wide smile after a 64-38 rout of Newark.
“You can never give it a 10, but it was pretty darn good,” Calo cracked.
Taking full advantage of their athleticism and size advantage against Newark, Orange raced to leads of 8-0 and 16-2 within the first five minutes, held the Wildcats to only seven shots in the first quarter and generally stymied anything Newark wanted to establish.
Even the Wildcats’ only basket, a layup for Kalen Winbush, was followed immediately by a technical when Winbush spiked the ball in celebration.
The other numbers that ultimately mattered to Calo were 24 — the Pioneers’ win total in 27 games this season, and one — as in at least one more game, Saturday night’s regional final at Ohio University against Pickerington Central or Westerville South.
One more win will take Orange, which was coming off its first district championship, even further into uncharted territory.
Jordan Edwards’ 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists led a balanced effort for Orange. Elias Lewis added 14 points and Devin Brown had 11 points, six rebounds and two assists off the bench.
“The goal was to get stops and run, get stops and run,” Edwards said. “We are really hard to guard in transition. Newark plays a lot of defenses. They had about nine different defenses the first time we played them (a 50-45 Orange win Dec. 29). It freaked us out the first time. Tonight, we were composed and did what we had to do.”
Grant Burkholder’s 20 points led Newark (19-8), which was in its 27th regional tournament. Burkholder was 8for-15 from the field, and the rest of team shot 6 for 21.
Africentric 49, Sugarcreek Garaway 47
ATHENS — After beating Garaway 61-48 in a Division III regional final a season ago, Africentric coach Michael Bates knew his team would receive the Pirates’ best effort in the rematch in a regional semifinal at Ohio University.
Garaway provided that challenge before the Nubians (21-5) used late free throws to advance to Saturday’s regional final against South Point at OU.
“I knew this game was going to be like that,” Bates said. “(Garaway has) excellent shooters. They run their stuff. They had extra motivation because last year it was (a regional final) where we played them right here at Ohio University and we ended up winning by double digits. We were probably their motivation for the summer. Whoever beats you last usually gives you that motivation.”
Dailyn Swain, a two-time district Player of the Year, led Africentric with 20 points and Freeman scored 19.
Harvest Prep 54, New Madison Tri-village 45
Harvest Prep is playing its best basketball at the perfect time.
The Warriors won their 10th consecutive game and 14th out of 15 in a Division III regional semifinal at Kettering Fairmont.
Harvest Prep (20-6) will play Camden Preble Shawnee in the regional final Saturday at Fairmont.
“It means a lot,” Harvest Prep coach David Dennis Sr. said of reaching the regional final. “Last year we lost in the semis (55-46 to North Robinson Colonel Crawford). We talked about being committed and having the opportunity to reach (the regional final) and the kids did it. We’re excited, but we want more.”
Adonus Abrams and Brandon Roddy led Harvest Prep with 12 points apiece.