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FAIRBORN, Ohio – Rognny Santiago has had some big games for the Princeton boys basketball team in the course of his three years on the varsity team.
The senior had his biggest game at the most important time, and now his team will play for its first state championship.
Princeton defeated Lakewood St. Edward 77-51 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association boys basketball Division I state semifinals, March 21, at Wright State's Nutter Center.
Princeton (24-3) will face the winner of Saturday's second semifinal at Wright State between Hilliard Bradley and Pickerington Central. Tipoff for the state championship game is 3:15 p.m. Sunday, March 22, at the University of Dayton Arena. St. Edward finishes 22-5.
Princeton has been the state runner-up twice, in 1972 and 2009. St. Edward had two previous state championships (1998, 2014) and was making its 13th appearance in the Final Four.
St. Edward head coach Eric Flannery has been there for all but the first one. Flannery, in his 30th season, ended the season with a 576-173 record.
Princeton shot 58.8% from the floor (30-51) and held the Eagles to 45% (18-40). Princeton forced 20 turnovers. Princeton cracked 70 points for the ninth time this year.
Santiago, averaging 13.6 points per game (third for the Vikings), beat that in the first quarter. He had 23 points on five 3-pointers in the first half. The points came in two bursts, one in each quarter.
He scored 13 points to pace Princeton to an 18-4 lead, nine of them from 3-point range. He had 15 points in the frame, with Princeton leading by 17, 31-14.
Princeton was 13-of-18 from the floor and forced seven turnovers. Kam Mercer and A'mire Gill had 5 points each in the period.
In the second quarter, Santiago scored 8 unanswered points in short order after the Eagles gained some momentum and missed a chance to build on it.
With Princeton leading 31-18, Kaleb Gettis, St. Edward’s 6-foot-4 sophomore post threat, scored a basket but was called for an offensive foul.
Moments later, players on both teams were called for a double technical. Senior J.T. Kelsheimer made one of two for St. Edward. Santiago made both for Princeton.
Santiago then made a pair of threes on consecutive possessions. Then Mercer got a steal and fast break dunk to put Princeton up by 22, 41-19, with 2:50 left in the half, forcing an Eagles timeout.
Princeton led 44-28 at the half after St. Edward scored the last 7 points. Senior Bryan Vlosich had 14 points in the half and Gettis, 8.
Princeton didn’t let that St. Edward spurt get to them.
Princeton outscored St. Edwards 24-14 in the third quarter and led by 26, 68-42. Mercer and Gill had 7 points apiece in the quarter, pushing them into double figures for the game. Mercer ended the third period with 17 points.
Santiago has been one of Cincinnati’s best shooters, closing in on 200 3-pointers made for his career and 1,000 career points while shooting better than 41% from behind the arc.
He came in scoring in double figures in 11 of his last 14 games but hadn’t scored 20 or more since Jan. 30. He set a season high with 28 points. His career high is 34, which he did twice.
Santiago also had three assists. Mercer ended with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting and three assists. Gill scored 13 with six assists. Amir Phillips had 12 with seven rebounds.
St. Edward is ranked No. 6 in the state (regardless of division) in this week’s MaxPreps Computer Rankings and No. 4 in D-I.
Senior Bryan Vlosich (19.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals) was the Northeast Lakes District Player of the Year, while Kelsheimer (11.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.9 steals) and Knox (12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists) were first and second team selections, respectively.
Vlosich ends his career as the school’s all-time leader in made 3-pointers.
This story will be updated
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Santiago's big game leads Princeton boys basketball to state final
Continue reading...
The senior had his biggest game at the most important time, and now his team will play for its first state championship.
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Princeton defeated Lakewood St. Edward 77-51 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association boys basketball Division I state semifinals, March 21, at Wright State's Nutter Center.
Princeton (24-3) will face the winner of Saturday's second semifinal at Wright State between Hilliard Bradley and Pickerington Central. Tipoff for the state championship game is 3:15 p.m. Sunday, March 22, at the University of Dayton Arena. St. Edward finishes 22-5.
Princeton has been the state runner-up twice, in 1972 and 2009. St. Edward had two previous state championships (1998, 2014) and was making its 13th appearance in the Final Four.
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St. Edward head coach Eric Flannery has been there for all but the first one. Flannery, in his 30th season, ended the season with a 576-173 record.
Princeton shot 58.8% from the floor (30-51) and held the Eagles to 45% (18-40). Princeton forced 20 turnovers. Princeton cracked 70 points for the ninth time this year.
Santiago, averaging 13.6 points per game (third for the Vikings), beat that in the first quarter. He had 23 points on five 3-pointers in the first half. The points came in two bursts, one in each quarter.
He scored 13 points to pace Princeton to an 18-4 lead, nine of them from 3-point range. He had 15 points in the frame, with Princeton leading by 17, 31-14.
You must be registered for see images
Princeton was 13-of-18 from the floor and forced seven turnovers. Kam Mercer and A'mire Gill had 5 points each in the period.
In the second quarter, Santiago scored 8 unanswered points in short order after the Eagles gained some momentum and missed a chance to build on it.
With Princeton leading 31-18, Kaleb Gettis, St. Edward’s 6-foot-4 sophomore post threat, scored a basket but was called for an offensive foul.
Moments later, players on both teams were called for a double technical. Senior J.T. Kelsheimer made one of two for St. Edward. Santiago made both for Princeton.
Santiago then made a pair of threes on consecutive possessions. Then Mercer got a steal and fast break dunk to put Princeton up by 22, 41-19, with 2:50 left in the half, forcing an Eagles timeout.
Princeton led 44-28 at the half after St. Edward scored the last 7 points. Senior Bryan Vlosich had 14 points in the half and Gettis, 8.
Princeton didn’t let that St. Edward spurt get to them.
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Princeton outscored St. Edwards 24-14 in the third quarter and led by 26, 68-42. Mercer and Gill had 7 points apiece in the quarter, pushing them into double figures for the game. Mercer ended the third period with 17 points.
Santiago has been one of Cincinnati’s best shooters, closing in on 200 3-pointers made for his career and 1,000 career points while shooting better than 41% from behind the arc.
He came in scoring in double figures in 11 of his last 14 games but hadn’t scored 20 or more since Jan. 30. He set a season high with 28 points. His career high is 34, which he did twice.
Santiago also had three assists. Mercer ended with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting and three assists. Gill scored 13 with six assists. Amir Phillips had 12 with seven rebounds.
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St. Edward is ranked No. 6 in the state (regardless of division) in this week’s MaxPreps Computer Rankings and No. 4 in D-I.
Senior Bryan Vlosich (19.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals) was the Northeast Lakes District Player of the Year, while Kelsheimer (11.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.9 steals) and Knox (12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists) were first and second team selections, respectively.
Vlosich ends his career as the school’s all-time leader in made 3-pointers.
This story will be updated
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Santiago's big game leads Princeton boys basketball to state final
Continue reading...
