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Danny Davis has unloaded some sizzling shooting efforts in his decorated Springfield High School boys basketball career. And Saturday night was the first-half best.
After his third 3 within reach of the Moeller bench, Davis blew on his red-hot fingers. Then he hit another. Following his fifth 3 he was the first back on defense, arm extended, 3 signaled with a personal exclamation point and enveloped in make-believe smoke.
It was crowd-roaring better every launch.
“I was getting into the grove,” said Davis, who had five 3s and 15 points by halftime. “Once I hit one I usually start hitting more. But they didn’t fall in the second half and I’ve got to work on that.”
Sure enough, Davis cooled and Moeller rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to overcome nemesis Springfield 64-58 in the last of four Division I district finals at Wright State University on Saturday.
The win sends Moeller (23-3) into Wednesday’s D-I regional semifinals against Wilmington (23-1) at Xavier University. Upset winners Centerville (16-10) and Lakota East (18-7) are matched in the other semi.
Centerville took out favored LaSalle 58-38 and East stunned unbeaten and defending state champ Wayne 60-57. Wilmington started Saturday’s marathon with a 63-38 detonation of Mason.
Springfield (18-8) beat Moeller twice last season, including the D-I regional semis. A third straight win seemed in the making after the Wildcats mounted a 34-25 lead at the break.
But Davis essentially cooled, finishing with six treys and a game-high 22 points and Moeller quickly took over in the third quarter.
“If was an unbelievable first half by us, but you’ve got to put two halves together and we were unable to do that,” conceded Springfield coach Isiah Carson. “Those guys, they live in that district. They’re here every year. These guys just camp out at the district every year. It’s a great rivalry and it’s fun.”
Senior center Darius Harper added 11 points and six rebounds for the Wildcats, who had a four-game win streak snapped. Moeller was led by Keegan McDowell’s 18 points and won its seventh straight game.
“It seems like this is always a close game,” Moeller coach Carl Kremer said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for how Isiah runs his program. That’s a great win for us because we took a heck of a shot in the first half.”
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