'We have a lot to be proud of': Delaware Hayes falls in OHSAA boys basketball state semi
Frank DiRenna
DAYTON – In a game of momentum swings and clutch plays, Cleveland St. Ignatius had one more of each to outlast Delaware Hayes in the Division I boys basketball state semifinal Saturday at University of Dayton Arena.
Quinn Woidke’s layup with 13 seconds remaining lifted St. Ignatius to a 54-53 win, snapping Delaware's 21-game winning streak and ending the most successful season in program history. The Pacers (27-2) were playing at state for the first time.
With no timeouts to set up a play after Woidke’s basket, Landon Vanderwarker brought the ball up the right side of the court before making his way to the lane, where two defenders cut him off just inside the foul line. Vanderwarker pivoted and passed to Jake Lowman, who was a few feet behind the 3-point line just to the left of the top of the arc.
Lowman missed a contested 3-pointer and the rebound went to Carter Piatt-Brown, whose follow from the baseline went over the rim and appeared to have been shot after the buzzer sounded.
“They made plays and we made plays,” Vanderwarker said. “Basketball is a game of runs, and they made runs and we made runs. In the end, they just made one good play and we weren’t able to back it up.”
Seeking its first state championship since 2001, St. Ignatius (25-3) will play Centerville in the final at 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
“What a game,” Delaware coach Adam Vincenzo said. “That’s what the state tournament is all about – high level basketball with two very good teams. Unfortunately, somebody has to lose and it was us tonight. ... We have a lot to be proud of.”
After trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half and down 31-23 at halftime, the Pacers stormed back in the third quarter to take their first lead at 36-35 on Jesse Burris’ putback.
Chase Griggs’ basket late in the quarter gave Delaware a 43-39 lead entering the fourth.
Delaware was held without a field goal for the final 4:09, but took a 50-48 lead with 3:42 left when Burris and Vanderwarker combined to make 3 of 4 free throws after St. Ignatius’ Jack Zapolnik was called for his fourth foul and subsequent technical foul.
Trailing 53-50, St. Ignatius pulled out the win on Michael Lamirand’s layup with 1:30 remaining and Woidke’s clutch basket. The winning score was set up when St. Ignatius forced a turnover in the backcourt with 23 seconds left.
“We had the ball in some awkward spots on the sidelines,” Vincenzo said. “We had to take our timeouts just to protect us. ... That’s basketball. They got the turnover and made a play. In a game like this, tiny execution matters a lot. We executed a lot throughout the game, but just that little tiny detail. They were a little better than us in that last 30 seconds and made a couple of plays.”
Vanderwarker finished with a game-high 21 points and Burris added 17.
Damon Friery led the Wildcats with 16 points and Woidke scored 15.
“Delaware had an incredible season,” St. Ignatius coach Cam Joyce said. “Two losses and they had a great run. That’s a hell of a team. We have a lot of respect for that opponent. It was two great teams, and we were fortunate that it went our way. That’s been us all year.”