Dayton, OH- Coming into Saturday's state final four, the Lutheran West Longhorns weren't expected by many to challenge Chaminade Julienne led by 2023 Gatorade Ohio Player the Year winner George Washington III.
"Me and my players as the week went out read the column by certain writers and only one picked us," Longhorns head coach Jordan Duke said postgame. "We've played so many tough games this year that tested our mental and our resilience and it prepare us for games like today."
Both teams started the game rather sloppy offensively. Eagles senior guard Evan Dickey scored six first quarter for Chaminade to take a 11-8 lead after the quarter over Lutheran East.
B.B. Washington, younger brother of George, opened the quarter with a triple with give the Eagles a six point lead over Lutheran West. The Longhorns trailed Chaminade for 24:16 in the game, but never found themselves down further than 6.
Longhorns junior guard Jayson Levis who relatively had a quiet first quarter with four points, inserted himself in a dominate way in the second. Down 19-13 halfway in the quarter, Levis completed back-to-back and one layups to bring the Longhorns within 1 of the Eagles.
Levis and B.B. Washington exchanged a triples before George Washington III found Cal Weatherspoon on a fast break layup to take a 28-25 halftime lead. Levis scored 10 points in the second quarter.
Sophomore big man Matt Meyer started the second half on a 6-0 run following a stern halftime speech from Coach Duke.
"He told us somebody had to step up," Meyer said postgame. "I saw my Josh miss a few buckets around the rim and I noticed I started doing the same thing so I had to clean up my mistakes."
Meyer finished the third with 10 points on 5-5 shooting. Weatherspoon knocked in a last second triple to put the Eagles ahead 42-39 going into the fourth.
The Longhorns defense was impressive in the fourth quarter led by junior guard Junior Kambomba.
"Junior played the best defense you could ask from a kid to play to a player like Washington" Duke said postgame.
Washington III knocked in a tough mid range shot over Kambomba to put the Eagles up six early in the fourth.Younger brother B.B. Washington followed with a putback dunk that brought the Eagles Nest to their feet.
Things would get interesting late in the game as Levis fouled out with the game tied at 54. Levis could be seen being emotionally embraced by fellow teammate Derek Fairley with a chance at the title game on the line.
"I told him finish the job." Levis said postgame
Dickey would go on to miss the one and one free throw giving all momentum to the Longhorns. Fairley found Meyer on the low block for a huge dunk to give the Lutheran West the win and advancing them to the D-II State title game where they await the winner of Akron Buchtel and Columbus Bishop Ready.
Levis led all scorers with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Matt Meyer added 16 points and 8 rebounds.
Washington led for the Chaminade Julienne with 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Dickey finished with 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks.