Whoever hoists the Division I state championship trophy on Saturday will be new at it.
None of the four schools heading to Columbus have ever won the title before. Toledo St. John’s has been runner-up three times, while Princeton was second once.
Northland’s never been to the state tourney, and Harding hasn’t been there since 1966. Something has to give.
SCHEDULE (All games at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center)
Warren Harding (23-2) vs. Columbus Northland (25-1), Friday at 5:15 p.m.
Cincinnati Princeton (24-1) vs. Toledo St. John’s Jesuit (20-5), Friday at 8:30 p.m.
Championship Game: Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
TEAMS
Warren G. Harding (23-2)
Location: Warrren
Nickname: Raiders
Boys Enrollment: 682
Final 2009 Ranking: 8th
State Appearances: 2009, 1966
Head Coach: Steve Arnold
School Rec.: 134-29 (7 yrs.)
Probable Starters
PPG: 74.0; OPP: 58.0
F 30 Angel Gonzalez, 6-5, Jr., 17.0 ppg
F 44 Oneal Brown, 6-7, Jr., 4.0 ppg
G 23 Fred Williams, 6-0, Jr., 15.0 ppg
G 3 Desmar Jackson, 6-5, Sr., 21.0 ppg
G 34 Paris Bruner, 5-10, Sr., 6.0 ppg
Northland (25-1)
Location: Columbus
Nickname: Vikings
Boys Enrollment: 511
Final 2009 Ranking: 1st
State Appearances: 2009
Head Coach: Satch Sullinger
School Rec.: 122-76 (9 yrs.)
PPG: 69.0; OPP: 48.0
Probable Starters
F 50 Javon Cornley, 6-5, Sr., 8.9 ppg
C 34 Jared Sullinger, 6-9, Jr., 18.9 ppg
G 10 Trey Burke, 5-11, So., 9.3 ppg
G 24 JD Weatherspoon, 6-6, Jr., 14.0 ppg
G 30 Dimonde Hale, 6-4, Sr., 9.4 ppg
Princeton (24-1)
Location: Cincinnati
Nickname: Vikings
Boys Enrollment: 753
Final 2009 Ranking: 2nd
State Appearances: 2009, 1972
Head Coach: Josh Andrews
School Rec.: 42-7 (2 yrs.)
PPG: 67.4; OPP: 50.2
Probable Starters
F 10 Marquis Horne, 6-7, Sr., 11.1 ppg
F 5 Stefon Johnson, 6-6, Sr., 9.4 ppg
G 1 Orlando Williams, 6-5, Sr., 18.3 ppg
G 33 Jordan Sibert, 6-4, Jr., 15.1 ppg
G 15 Marcus Davis, 6-2, Jr., 2.4 ppg
St. John’s Jesuit (20-5)
Location: Toledo
Nickname: Titans
Boys Enrollment: 647
Final 2009 Ranking: Not Ranked
State Appearances: 2009, 2006, 2004, 2003, 1996, 1993
Head Coach: Ed Heintschel
School Rec.: 535-170 (30 yrs.)
PPG: 65.0; OPP: 53.0
Probable Starters
F 32 Tim Simmons, 6-7, Sr., 10.0 ppg
F 34 Tim Kynard, 6-3, Sr., 7.0 ppg
G 4 Michael Taylor, 6-1, Sr., 15.0 ppg
G 22 Jay Springs, 5-10, Jr., 10.0 ppg
G 14 Cheatham Norrils, 6-0, So., 7.0 ppg
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jared Sullinger, Cols. Northland, 6-foot-9, jr., 19.9: First team All-Ohio and the AP’s state player of the year. One of the nation’s top juniors (and ranked the No. 1 power forward), Sullinger has already committed to Ohio State (who offered his freshman year). Had 17 points, 20 rebounds and six blocks in the Vikings 54-53 overtime win over Dublin Scioto in the regional final. Sullinger’s father Satch is Northland’s head coach. He’s also the younger brother of former OSU player J.J. and Kent State senior forward Julian. A third team All-Ohio pick last year when he averaged 22 points and 14 rebounds. Said his father: “Great players have the ability to make people around them better and Jared has that ability. Good players can get theirs but they don’t necessarily make those around them better. Jared is a great player.”
Orlando Williams, Cin. Princeton, 6-5, sr., 18.3 ppg: First team All-Ohio selection is headed to Miami (OH) University. Averaged 13.3 points per game last year. Scored 18 points in the Vikings regional final win over LaSalle.
Desmar Jackson, Warren Harding, 6-5, sr., 21 ppg: First team All-Ohio selection is headed to the University of Wyoming. He had a huge game in the Raiders regional final win over North Ridgeville (23 points, nine rebounds, six steals and three blocks). Said head coach Steve Arnold: “Everything funnels through him. As Desmar goes this basketball team goes. You expect the crème to rise to the top and he’s done that these last two games.”
Jordan Sibert, Cin. Princeton, 6-4, jr., 15.1 ppg: Talented guard was honorable mention All-Ohio. He will join Sullinger at Ohio State in Thad Matta’s 2010 recruiting class. Considered one of the country’s Top 50 juniors. Said Princeton head coach Josh Andrews: “He’s an explosive talent who has done whatever it’s taken this year to make us a great team.”
Marquis Horne, Cin. Princeton, 6-7, sr., 11.1 ppg: Power forward is headed to Ohio University. He also had offers from Kent State, Bowling Green and Tennessee State. Said Andrews: “He’s a big body with a soft stroke.”
Michael Taylor, Tol. St. John’s Jesuit, 6-1, sr., 15 ppg: First team Northwest District and special mention All-Ohio. Is a four-year letterwinner who saw action against Canton McKinley at the state tournament his freshman year.
J.D. Weatherspoon, Cols. Northland, 6-6, Jr., 14.0 ppg: Versatile player has committed to Xavier University.
Trey Burke, Cols. Northland, 5-11, So., 9.3 ppg: Point guard is one of Ohio’s top sophomores. Said Northland head coach Satch Sullinger: “His upside is so great.”
Fred Williams, Warren Harding, 6-0, Jr., 15.0 ppg: Point guard is vital cog in Harding machine. Said Arnold: “He is the glue. Without Fred playing the way he has we’re not at this point right now.”
Javon Cornley, Cols. Northland, 6-5, Sr., 8.9 ppg: Indiana football recruit and brother of former Brookhaven beast and Penn State hoops standout Jamelle Cornley.
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