Disappointing end to great Lancer season

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

COLUMBUS — The Lincolnview Lancers have done it all year to other teams: destroy their composure with the Lancers’ stifling defense and aggressive offense. Unfortunately for Lincolnview (27-2), Willoughby Cornerstone Christian Academy (17-12) used its quickness, three-point shooting, and full-court, man-to-man defense to throw the Lancers off their game for three quarters of Saturday’s Division IV state championship match-up in Ohio State’s Value City Arena.

During that time, the Patriots compiled a 25-point advantage and were up 61-35. The Lancers found their game, outscoring Cornerstone 19-11 in the final stanza, but it was too late to turn things around.

The Patriots’ defense forced the usually unflappable Lancers into a number of first-half turnovers, and, while Cornerstone actually had more turnovers for the game, Lincolnview couldn’t convert on many, while the Patriots scored on most of the Lancers’ miscues.

The game was close in the first quarter, with Lincolnview trailing by just seven points, 19-12, but the second quarter was a disaster for the Lancers, as Cornerstone went up 37-18 at the half on an 18-6 run in the period.

The Patriots also outscored Lincolnview 24-17 in the third quarter before the Lancers desperately tried, but failed, to get back in the game in the final stanza.

Trevor Neate was the most consistent player for Lincolnview and was also the game’s high scorer with 16 points. Austin Leeth and Derek Youtsey added 10 points apiece, while Hayden Ludwig had 9 points for Lincolnview and Chandler Adams brought down 10 rebounds.

The Lancer defense did hold sophomore guard Mike Bothwell, a first team All-Ohio player and Division IV tournament MVP who had averaged 33.7 points in regional and state tournament play before Saturday, to 14 points. Willoughby had three other players in double figures. Jeremy Owens also had 14 points to lead the Patriots with Bothwell, while Jack Kelsheimer and Brandon McQueen added 13 points apiece for Cornerstone.

The Patriots shot 56 percent from the field (28 of 50), including 7 of 15 (46.7 percent) from three-point range. Lincolnview shot 45 percent, including just 1 of 8 three-point attempts.

The Lancers were 7 of 11 (63 percent) from the free throw line, while Cornerstone hit 9 of 13 free throws (69 percent).

Rebounding went to the Patriots (30-23), while the Lancers, after losing the ball early, had fewer turnovers for the game (12-14).

The game also showed the advantages a private school has over a public school in Ohio athletics. While only in its 14th year of existence, Cornerstone Christian played a daunting, mostly Division I schedule, with at least two games outside the state. In addition, four of its 12 losses came from forfeits due to the Patriots using an ineligible player.

Private schools also have a recruiting advantage, since they can bring players in from a much larger area than public schools, where open enrollment is limited pretty much to adjacent districts.