Jackson Center plays the top-ranked Van Wert Lincolnview/Mansfield St. Peter’s champion from the Bowling Green regional in next Friday’s D-IV state semifinals at Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center in Columbus at 2 p.m.
Yellow Springs (21-7) defeated Lima Perry 61-43 in the regional semis and Jackson Center of the Shelby County League outlasted Southeastern 39-32.
Like he did in the semifinal win, senior Kaner Butler led Yellow Springs with 17 points. Senior center Isaiah Taylor added 13 points and Ethan Dewine 7.
Developing 6-foot-6 junior center Brady Wildermuth paced the Tigers with 19 points despite missing several late free throws that kept Yellow Springs within striking distance.
That included Taylor’s top-of-the-key 3 with 24.5 seconds remaining that pulled the Bulldogs within 42-39. But Yellow springs couldn’t hit again after a 3 missed with about 11 seconds left.
Jackson Center responded with free throws from Southwest District D-IV player of the year Drew Sosby and Wildermuth.
Jackson Center’s final six points over the last 3:11 were free throws. It’ll be the fourth time the Tigers have advanced to the state final four. Jackson Center was the D-IV state runner-up in 2012 and won a Class A state championship in 1985.
It was the most successful Yellow Springs season since the 1983 squad was beaten in the Class A state semifinals. It also capped a breakout effort by the Bulldogs in Steve Grasso’s fourth season as head coach. Yellow Springs also snapped Troy Christian’s five-year run as the Metro Buckeye Conference champions.
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