Villa Angela-St. Joseph Wins 5th Straight District Title

Villa Angela-Saint Joseph defeated Warrensville Heights, 75-45, to win its fifth-straight district title on Friday, March 10.

The Vikings were in control from the start.

Jerry Higgins and Alonzo Gaffney got things rolling early.

Jerry Higgens makes it 6-0 VASJ #VASJvsWarrensville pic.twitter.com/YTim2kRKdb

— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 11, 2017

Alonzo Gaffney makes it 10-3 VASJ pic.twitter.com/o8fIRG9i1s

— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 11, 2017

Alonzo Gaffney makes it 10-3 VASJ pic.twitter.com/o8fIRG9i1s

— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 11, 2017

Will Butler got in on the action with a smooth 3-pointer to make it 16-3.

Butler for 3@VASJBasketball 16-3 pic.twitter.com/lWkZH0C93r

— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 11, 2017

VASJ would close out the quarter strong, leading 23-5 after one.

The Vikings kept their foot on the gas pedal and Gaffney knocked down a three early in the second quarter to end a brief Warrensville run.

Gaffney for 3

VASJ 28-9 pic.twitter.com/Hz62Gdkk30

— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 11, 2017

VASJ remained in control the rest of the way and Higgins scored in a variety of ways.

Higgins makes it 46-22 pic.twitter.com/p5l43PQztT

— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) March 11, 2017

Higgins finished with a game-high 21 points, Gaffney scored 20 and Will Butler scored 15.

The trio of players has been a force in the Division III playoffs and the group looks to continue to lead VASJ closer to Columbus when the Vikings face Garrettsville Garfield on March 15 in the regional semifinals.

Tip off is set for 8 pm at the Canton Fieldhouse.

Warrensville’s impressive tournament run comes to an end in blowout fashion, but the seventh-seeded Tigers were one of the bigger surpise teams in Northeast Ohio this postseason, knocking off second-seeded Elyria Catholic in the opening round and reaching a district final.

Joe Vallery led the Tigers with 15 points and Shamar Latham scored 12. The senior duo helped lead the Tigers throughout the tournament and it’ll be interesting to see which players step up in 2017-18, as Warrensville has a great deal of success to build upon from this year.