Mar 15, 2025
photo by: Paul Krajnyak
The Monroe Central Seminoles and their fans in the stands celebrate as their OHSAA Division VI state semifinals game against Kirtland ends in a 58-54 victory for the Seminoles. A Monroe County team will play for the state championship for the first time since 1985 as Monroe Central faces Marion Local for the title on Saturday, March 15
WESTERVILLE — For the first time in four decades a boys basketball team from Monroe County will play for a state championship. Skyvue fell in the 1985 Class A state finals.
Monroe Central started quick, fell behind late in the third quarter but rallied for a 58-54 victory over Kirtland (19-9) in an Ohio Division VI state semifinal inside a jam-packed Rike Center on the campus of Otterbein University.
“It feels good to win,” Monroe Central head coach Mason Lang said. “But we’ve got to make free throws and limit our turnovers.
“I thought we took control of the game three or four different times, but we’ve still got some things to work on,” Lang added. “I’m really proud of the way the boys worked through some adversity. Kirtland made a run and took the lead there late in the third quarter. We could’ve folded but we finished strong.”
With the cherished victory, the Seminoles (25-3) advance to the state championship game opposite Marion Local, a 52-38 victor over North Robinson Colonel Crawford in the other semifinal Friday at Bowling Green State University. The state final tips at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 15 inside the University of Dayton Arena.
photo by: Paul Krajnyak
Deadlocked at 38 entering the final eight minutes, Monroe Central outscored the Hornets 20-16 to punch their ticket. Seniors Chance Allen (7) and Tucker Howell (6) combined for 13 of the fourth-quarter tallies.
Howell, the school’s all-time leading scorer, gave Monroe Central the lead for good with an inside basket and a layup for a 45-41 advantage the Seminoles would never relinquish.
The final couple of minutes were helter-skelter as both teams had several turnovers and the Seminoles made things interesting by missing six free throws down the stretch, but a steal by Cooper Howell and one of two free throws with 3.6 seconds remaining sealed the deal as the large Monroe Central contingent fans stormed the court after the final buzzer.
“Our fans have supported us the entire way and I know they will show up again next week,” Lang added.
It appeared as though Monroe Central was going to run away and hide in the early going as it scored the first eight points of the contest before Kirtland could get on the board. Allen had seven of his game-high 20 points in the opening quarter while Cooper Howell pulled down eight of his 12 rebounds as the Seminoles led 17-7 after leading by 12 twice.
photo by: Paul Krajnyak
However, the Hornets slowly but surely cut into the deficit, getting it to 29-21 at the half before taking their first — and only — lead at 36-35 with 1:20 remaining in the third quarter.
With the score knotted at 41 early in the fourth quarter, Tucker Howell made it 45-41. Three free throws by Kirtland’s Vince Carriero made it 45-44. Allen buried a three-pointer from the left wing to push the margin to 48-44. Caedyn Silva bumped the lead to 51-44 with a free throw and layup.
Leading 55-52 Allen went strong to the basket for a 57-52 lead. Following a turnover by each squad, Allen misfired on two free throws — Monroe Central was just 4-for-15 for the game — and Carriero made 2 of 3 charity tosses for a 57-54 margin. Cooper Howell made it a two-possession game with a late free throw.
Allen was joined in double figures by Tucker Howell with 14 points. He also grabbed a game-best 13 rebounds, one more than younger brother Cooper, who had 10 in the first 16 minutes. Corbin Farnsworth added eight points before fouling out and Silva chipped in seven.
Lucas Renfro had 18 to lead the Hornets. Carriero added 10.
photo by: Paul Krajnyak
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