One of the only bad things about the Ohio High School Basketball Tournament is that only about five teams in the entire state get to end their season with a win. For the rest, the season ends with a loss that brings careers to an end and the sudden realization that you probably won't get to play again with the guys you've been playing with year around since about the sevent grade. If those teammates are also your friends (which they usually are), it's a tough deal.
Unfortunately, Saturday's 42 - 32 loss to Westerville South in the Central District Finals meant the end of a fine season and an end to some fine careers at Worthington. The Cardinals finished with a 19 - 5 record and as district finalist. They certainly have a lot to be proud of.
Seniors graduating from this team are: Taylor Hobbs, Justin Hallowell, Wade Mickey, Kyler Cowgill, Jarrett Cowgill, Casey Jewett, Nidal Abu Kweik, Gavin Banks and Chris Nocar. A fine group of young men who represented themselves, their school, and their families very well throughout their entire careers.
Here is the write up in the Columbus Dispatch about the game:
Westerville South 42Thomas Worthington 32
Dominant defensive effort
Wildcats harass Cardinals into 8-of-35 shooting
Sunday, March 2, 2008 3:12 AM
By Steve Blackledge
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Westerville South players celebrate the school's first district title since 1990.
Kirk IrwinDispatch photos
Westerville South's Alex Maze penetrates the Thomas Worthington defense and puts up a shot during a defensive-oriented district final.
It might have been an ugly game for fans, but Westerville South's 42-32 victory over Thomas Worthington yesterday was a defensive masterpiece in the eyes of those who mattered.
Westerville South not only held Thomas Worthington to its lowest point total of the season but induced the tall, talented Cardinals into 8-of-35 shooting (22.9 percent) from the field.
The Wildcats (17-7) won a Division I district final and advance to play second-seeded Dublin Scioto (22-1) in a regional semifinal at 7 p.m. Thursday, also in the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum.
"Sure, both teams struggled offensively, but I can say with certainty that we played very, very well defensively," Wildcats coach Ed Calo said. "We tried to blow up some of their sets and get them out of their comfort zone. … Another of our priorities was to try not to let (Taylor) Hobbs breathe."
Hobbs, the two-time Ohio Capital Conference Central Division player of the year, was limited to a season-low six points on 2-of-12 shooting from the field.
Thomas Worthington coach Bob Miller had no other explanation but to congratulate South on its defensive effort.
"That's a very good defensive team and they certainly gave us problems running our offense," Miller said. "They play an outstanding, swarming, man-to-man defense. Coupled with our defense, which also played very well, it was pretty clear from the outset it was going to be a real dogfight to score."
It was South's first district championship since 1990.
"I knew after we lost (to Newark) in the district championship game last year that this was going to happen this year," Wildcats junior guard Jason Davis said. "We got a taste of it and we all wanted to take it to the next step and make history."
Although the Wildcats graduated their two leading scorers from 2007, returning starter Mike Fletcher said their cohesiveness and depth have paid dividends.
"After we lost four straight (in late December and early January), we started to come together, and a loss at home to Dublin Jerome (Jan. 25) was the turning point because it gave us some resolve," he said.
The game featured seven lead changes and three ties.
Davis made a floater with 2:10 left to put South ahead 37-32, and Traevon Jackson turned a steal into a layup with 1:41 left.
"We've had some great opportunities between 1990 and now but came up just a little short," Calo said. "Although I realize that we've been a little fortunate playing our way through this bracket, I thought we matched up well against those teams and the kids came through."
The boxscore:
Westerville South 42, Thomas Worthington 32
WS: Fletcher 2-2-7, Palumbo 1-0-2, Collins 2-1-6, Maze 1-1-3, Jabbie 1-0-2, Jackson 1-4-6, Wilson 1-0-3, Harrington 2-2-6, Davis 3-0-7. 3-point goals: Fletcher, Davis, Collins, Wilson. Totals: 14-10-42.
TW: Girardi 0-2-2, Easley 1-3-5, Hobbs 2-2-6, Craig 1-2-5, Hallowell 3-0-7, K.Cowgill 0-4-4, Nocar 1-1-3. 3-point goals: Craig, Hallowell. Totals: 8-14-32.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
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