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Wayne, Trotwood finish top 5 in final state polls

Wayne’s Deshon Parker (left) and Centerville’s Ryan Marchal battle for a rebound during the Warriors 52-49 win at home Feb. 16, 2018. NICK DUDUKOVICH / CONTRIBUTED

Wayne’s Deshon Parker (left) and Centerville’s Ryan Marchal battle for a rebound during the Warriors 52-49 win at home Feb. 16, 2018. NICK DUDUKOVICH / CONTRIBUTED
Sports
By Marc Pendleton
Feb 20, 2018
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GWOC reps Wayne and Trotwood-Madison finished among the top 10 in their respective divisions of the final Associated Press boys state basketball polls that were released on Tuesday. No. 1 most of the season, Wayne (20-1) finished No. 3 in D-I. Trotwood (19-3) was No. 5 in D-II. Both are top seeds in their sectionals.

Two Midwest Athletic Conference teams matched also were among the top 10, No. 6 Versailles (18-4) in D-III and No. 5 St. Henry (18-3) in D-IV. Also, Springfield Catholic Central (18-3) was No. 10 in D-IV.

The four top-ranked teams were Solon (D-I), Wauseon (D-II), Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (D-III) and Mansfield St. Peter’s (D-IV). State-wide media reps who subscribe to AP are eligible for weekly voting.

• High-scoring Samari Curtis has been missing from Xenia’s lineup the last five games since undergoing concussion protocol. Buccaneers coach Kent Anderson said the Greater Western Ohio Conference’s leading scorer (30.4 points) might be ready for a D-I sectional opener against Fairmont on Saturday at Trotwood.

A 6-foot-4 junior, Curtis has gone for 30-plus points 10 times. He put 41 on West Carrollton and a career best 50 at Tippecanoe. He is verbally committed to Xavier.

“You don’t mess around with knees and you sure don’t mess around with a kid’s brain when you’re talking about concussion protocol,” Anderson said. “He’s got a future to protect.”

• Streaking Troy Christian outlasted host Bethel 66-60 in overtime last Saturday in what might be a preview of what’s ahead in the D-III postseason. TC’s James Anderson had 20 points and nine rebounds. Barring upsets, Troy Christian (20-2), a No. 5 seed, should play No. 2 seed Bethel (17-5) in a D-III sectional final at Northmont.

Troy Christian won the Metro Buckeye Conference (12-1) and takes a 16-game win streak into its tourney opener against Indian Lake on Saturday. Bethel (12-0) won the Central Buckeye Conference but ended with regular season 3-3. The Bees face the Miami East/Greenon winner on Feb. 28.

• Northmont saved its best for last to end the boys regular season last Saturday. Thunderbolts senior Jabari Perkins tied it on a 3-pointer with eight seconds left. Northmont’s Cameron Rucker followed with a steal with 2.2 seconds remaining and then Dawson Walker hit a buzzer-beater in Northmont’s 57-55 win.

Northmont (10-12) opens the D-I postseason against Fairborn (9-13) at Butler on Friday. Beavercreek (9-13) opens against Franklin (17-5) on Friday at Trotwood.

• Northeastern standout Hayley Suchland scored 41 points in last week’s 67-61 defeat of Triad in a girls Ohio Heritage Conference game.

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About the Author

Marc Pendleton