by Columbus- Northeast Ohio was well represented Saturday as 5 teams competed in the Special Olympics State basketball tournament.
Division 1: The Cuyahoga Rockets are a win away from a state title as they took care of business 67-44 against the Columbus Comets. Early the Rockets took the lead and never looked back. The team effort had 4 Rockets players in double figures.
The Rockets struck first and never looked back, outscoring the Comets each quarter, with 17 in the 1st, a game high quarter of 22 in the 2nd, 19 in the 3rd, and 9 in the 4th.
With the win, the Rockets will meet up with Lucas County in the state championship game Sunday morning, while the Comets finished in 3rd place in the division.
Division 2: The Summit County Warriors pulled away in the 2nd half to soundly defeat the Hamilton County Wizards to win the state title by a score of 58-37.
The teams exchanged baskets early as both were trying to feel each other out. The Warriors led by 9 after the 1st quarter and 8 after the 2nd quarter, but there was a belief in the Hamilton County team that they were still in it and it was felt in the gym.
After two 4 point runs by the Wizards that cut the Warriors’ lead to as close as 6 points, the Warriors went on an 11-0 run that nearly ended the 3rd quarter. The Wizards gave it their all and played till the end, however, that run proved to be the single biggest difference in this contest.
Division 3: Medina County took 3rd place after falling to Allen County.
Division 4: The Strongsville Mustangs ran into the eyes’ of the Newark Tigers, dropping their semifinal game 48-32.
The Tigers speed and height advantage proved to be too much for the Mustangs. A block, followed by a beautiful long outlet pass leading to an easy layup happened like a broken record playing the same song over and over.
When Strongsville went on a run, it was short lived, and Newark always seemed to answer with a run of equal, if not greater length.
The Mustangs will compete for the bronze medal Sunday morning, while the Tigers will go for gold early Sunday afternoon.
Division 5: The Murray Ridge Raiders dropped a tough one to the Jaguars of Pickerington County by a score of 49-32. The Raiders got out to a 7-0 lead to begin the game, before the Jaguars went on a 10-0 run themselves to lead 10-7. The Raiders and Jaguars traded blows before the Raiders ended the half on a 7-2 run, and took a 20-14 lead into halftime.
Unfortunately for the Raiders, a waking giant in Pickerington woke up in the 2nd half. In the 3rd quarter, the Raiders were outscored 21-3. Pickerington showed signs they had the potential to break out with their speed and quickness and in the 3rd quarter it proved to be too much for the Raiders. When Murray Ridge threw an errant pass, Pickerington was able to pounce and the Raiders were not able to catch up, leading to many fast break layups.
The Raiders do have an opportunity to still earn a state medal, as they play Hamilton County in the 3rd place game Sunday morning.
As for Pickerington, they will go for gold against Henry County Sunday afternoon.
