Luke Schaefer Scores 30, Lifts Medina Past Hoban in District Final

By Don DiFrancesco

The Medina Bees must find the nets at Copley High School to their liking. For the second straight game the Bees put up good shooting numbers and dumped top-seeded Akron Archbishop Hoban in the process, winning 55-52.

6’4″ senior forward Luke Schaefer was the offensive hero for Medina. He went 10/18 from the field and 9/10 from the line for a game-high 30 points. Schaefer also led the Bees with seven rebounds.

Luke Schaefer lifting Medina in 4th quarter pic.twitter.com/34n6J1Mxmb

— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 12, 2017

2 more of Schaefer's 30 points pic.twitter.com/iHFVbhgzJA

— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 12, 2017

Hoban’s Garrett Houser, a 6’0″ junior guard, countered with 19 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds. 6’4″ senior forward Brian Cuppett added 10 points for the Knights before fouling out with 1:52 remaining in the game.

A 3-point shot by Houser tied the game at 44 with about four minutes to play.

The score remained tied until Medina junior guard Dylan Fultz hit a breakaway layup at the 2:29 mark, giving the Bees a 46-44 lead.

Dylan Fultz puts Medina in front, 46-44 pic.twitter.com/RvhmJsXHZ7

— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 12, 2017

Medina was able to hold the lead the rest of the way and punch their ticket to the Sweet 16.

Collen Gurley, Hoban’s outstanding junior guard, had an uncharacteristic off night. His buzzer-beating 3-pointer just before halftime was his first bucket of the game and with the shot, he surpassed 1,000 career points.

Collen Gurley's halftime buzzer beater cuts the score to 21-19 pic.twitter.com/R3XnDfO3Kt

— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 12, 2017

He finished the evening with six points.

Medina advances to face Massillon Jackson on Thursday, March 16 at the University of Akron. Tip-off is set for 7 pm.