Knights down Aquinas to win state title

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

COLUMBUS — The Crestview Knights did something Saturday only six teams have done this century – finish the season undefeated and win a state championship. The streak began in 2000 with LeBron James’ Akron St. Vincent St. Mary team and now includes the 29-0 Knights, who ran a clinic in the second half against Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas to win the Division IV title 71-44.

It was the first-ever state championship for Crestview, although not its first appearance in a state tournament.

It was the Knights vs. the Knights, and the Aquinas Knights gave Crestview some trouble in the first half with their quickness, forcing the local Knights into an uncharacteristic 11 turnovers in the half and 19 miscues overall.

Crestview got out to a six-point lead, 15-9, in the first quarter. Aquinas’ three-point shooting and its defense, though, got them back in the game with a 14-11 run in the second quarter. The Stark County Knights trailed by just three points, 26-23, at the half. Aquinas was 4 of 7 from behind the arc in the first half, while Crestview was 3 of 8 from three-point range.

Crestview Coach Jeremy Best may be one of the best second-half coaches in the business, something he again demonstrated Saturday as his Knights went on an 18-0 run in the third quarter, outscoring Aquinas 20-3 in the period to go up by 20 points, 46-26, with a quarter yet to play.

The local Knights then did what they needed to do to close out the game, spreading the floor and either drawing a foul or getting the ball inside for an easy layup against outmatched Aquinas.

Damian Helm again led the Knights with 20 points, including 5 of 7 from the free throw line. Tyson Bolenbaugh shot an amazing 80 percent from the field (8 of 10) and was 2 of 2 from the line for 18 points, while getting three blocks and eight rebounds in the game. Connor Lautzenheiser added 11 points – including three treys – and Preston Zaleski had 10 counters for Crestview.

Aquinas was led by Anthony Moeglin, who had 10 points for the Stark County Knights, while Sam Pusateri added 9 points for Aquinas.

The local Knights were 25 of 42 from the field (59.5 percent), including 6 of 13 from three-point range (46.2 percent). Aquinas made 15 of 38 field goal attempts (39.5 percent) and was 5 of 15 (33.3 percent) from behind the arc.

Crestview, a 75-percent free-throw shooting team overall, canned 15 of 23 free throws (65.2 percent) in the game, while Aquinas was 9 of 15 from the free-throw line (60 percent).

The local Knights outrebounded Aquinas 28 to 21, while Crestview also had fewer turnovers, 19-22, than Aquinas.

Crestview ends a storybook season with a 29-0 record, while Aquinas, which entered the tournament with an 11-11 record and then ran off seven straight wins, ends its Cinderella season at 18-12 (more photos in Monday’s edition).