*Matt Medley and Don DiFrancesco contributed to this article*
It was a clean sweep: four games on championship Saturday, four titles for Northeast Ohio.
Massillon Jackson’s Kyle Young made a free throw with 3.6 seconds remaining in the game, breaking a tie with Cincinnati Moeller and giving the Polar Bears their second OHSAA crown, 39-38. Jackson (28-2) previously won the title in 2010.
Moeller, a 3-time state champion (1999, 2003, 2007) and the top-ranked Division 1 team in Ohio, finishes at 28-1. Coincidentally, the last time Jackson won a State Title, it came against Moeller.
Young, under constant pressure by Moeller’s big men, had only five points in the game, well below his 18 points per game average. He did, however lead the Polar Bears with 10 rebounds and played all 32 minutes.
The game was close throughout, entertaining the large fan bases for both schools. After one quarter, Jackson led 13-11.
When they scored the first two baskets of the second quarter, the Polar Bears had what turned out to be their largest lead of the game at 17-11. Moeller regrouped to knot the score at 20 by halftime.
Jackson’s athletic 6’5” forward Logan Hill slammed home a putback dunk with 6:05 to play in the third quarter making the score 25-23 Jackson.
The Polar Bears maintained a lead for the remainder of the game until Moeller’s Keegan McDowell calmly sank two free throws to tie it at 38 with 23.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Jackson worked the ball in to their main man Young who headed down the lane and drew a foul, giving him the opportunity to put the game away.
Hill was the top scorer for Jackson with 12 points and pulled down six rebounds. Junior forward Jaret Pallotta had 11 points and seven rebounds for the Bears.
Moeller’s slick 6’0” sophomore guard Miles McBride led the Crusaders’ attack with 15 points to take game-high honors. He also was the leading rebounder for Moeller, collecting nine caroms. Keegan McDowell, in addition to tying the game late, scored 14 points with eight rebounds. Jackson won the overall battle of the boards by a 31-27 count.
Check out these highlights of the atmosphere inside the Schottenstein Center, where 11,750 fans witnessed an instant classic.
Logan Hill says get that weak stuff outta here. pic.twitter.com/w47slkp5zg
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 26, 2017
That was how Hill started the night. You got the feeling it was going to be his kind of game.
Miles McBride was in a groove.
McBride makes it 17-13 pic.twitter.com/gASE3SjDBQ
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 26, 2017
Keegan McDowell hit a big three late in the first half.
Keegan Mcdowell cuts it to 2 with a 3 ball@LetsGoBigMoe pic.twitter.com/s2YBUFKpkv
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 26, 2017
McBride knotted it up before the half.
McBride ties it at 20@LetsGoBigMoe pic.twitter.com/kGVPV3q7F0
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 26, 2017
Hill started the second half the way he started the game.
Hill gives Jackson a 22-20 lead pic.twitter.com/rv7F1l4wpY
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 26, 2017
The big man continued to impress.
Logan Hill putback
32-27 pic.twitter.com/GbB7nl77Xt
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 26, 2017
Jaret Pallotta built the lead up to five with a dazzling drive.
Jaret Pallotta makes it 34-29 pic.twitter.com/2NqJiVJ9fz
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 26, 2017
But McBride wasn’t done.
McBride ties it at 34
2:08 to play pic.twitter.com/ss9IAXAZjI
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 26, 2017
Pallotta delivered the shot of the night.
Pallotta for 3@PurpleNGoldCrew lead 37-34
1:23 to go. pic.twitter.com/L1GjsRm044
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 26, 2017
McBride came out of nowhere for this block, keeping the Crusaders in the game.
Miles McBride. Huge block@LetsGoBigMoe pic.twitter.com/Jv8UNxbvXk
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 26, 2017
Young draws the foul.
Young fouled pic.twitter.com/ApW4Dd5U9S
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 26, 2017
Splits the pair.
Young splits pair. 39-38 2.8 seconds left.
Moeller will inbound out of timeout pic.twitter.com/7tayDMW1qL
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 26, 2017
The sea of purple erupts.
State Champs. pic.twitter.com/9k0ihdKHqL
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 26, 2017
Head Coach Tim Debevec had this to say about his homegrown boys:
@PurpleNGoldCrew head coach Tim Debevec
"Our kids are homegrown. They're all from Jackson." pic.twitter.com/rBorWa3C5s
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 26, 2017
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