Division I
St. Ignatius 66,
Centerville 56
DAYTON — Cleveland St. Ignatius won the second boys basketball state championship in school history with its 66-56 win over Centerville on Sunday night in the final game of this year’s state tournament at the University of Dayton Arena.
Jack Zapolnik led the Wildcats (26-3) with 14 points. St. Ignatius’ other state championship was in 2001. Centerville (20-9) was playing in the state tournament for the fourth consecutive year.
Division II
Kettering Alter 68,
Maysville 54
DAYTON — Alter won its fourth boys basketball state championship but its first since its legendary coach Joe Petrocelli retired in 2013 when beat Maysville 68-54 in the Division II state championship game on Sunday at the University of Dayton Arena.
The Knights led only 27-24 at halftime but took control of the game with a 13-0 run in the third quarter.
The two teams combined for 22 three-pointers — 14 by Maysville and eight by Alter. Joe Brand’s 23 points led Alter and R.J. Green had 17 points. Maysville’s Alex Bobb scored 24 points, including six three-pointers, and his teammate Jordyn Watson had 17 points, with five three-pointers.
Division III
Lutheran East 45,
Harvest Prep 36
DAYTON — Cleveland Heights Lutheran East won its second consecutive state title, and its third in four years, when it defeated Canal Winchester Harvest Prep 45-36 in the boys basketball Division III state championship game at the University of Dayton Arena on Sunday.
Playing in its record seventh consecutive state tournament and ninth overall, Lutheran East claimed its fifth state title (2005, 2017, 2021, 2023, 2024) and became just the seventh school statewide with at least five boys basketball state championships.
Lutheran East’s Jesse McCulloch scored a game-high 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds while playing all 32 minutes. Chris Hill joined him in double figures with 10 points.
Seven different players scored for Harvest Prep (24-5), led by Khalil Daniel’s nine points.
Division IV
Richmond Heights 62,
Berlin Hiland 35
DAYTON — Richmond Heights became the fourth school in Ohio ever to win three consecutive boys basketball state championships when it defeated Berlin Hiland 62-35 on Sunday in this year’s Division IV championship game.
The other schools who won three in a row are Cincinnati North College Hill (2005-07), Columbus Wehrle (1988-90) and Dayton Stivers (1928-30).
Hiland scored the game’s first five points, but Richmond Heights (19-9) ended the first quarter on a 12-2 run and stretched its lead to 25-14 at halftime. Richmond Heights made 8 of 11 shots in the third quarter, including three three-pointers, and led 44-22 after three periods.
Demaris Winters, Jr. made five three-pointers and scored a game-high 19 points for Richmond Heights.
Nick Wigton, who hit a game-winning three-pointer in a 62-59 semifinal over Lima Central Catholic, led Hiland with 16 points.
