One rough quarter prevented Indian Lake from upsetting Cincinnati Taft in a district championship game last season.
A year later, the Lakers are in the exact same spot. They hope the outcome will be different this time as the prepare to face the Senators in a Division III title game at 2 p.m. Saturday at the University of Cincinnati.
“I know our guys are excited about the opportunity,” said Indian Lake head coach Zach Overturf. “They saw they could play with Taft last year, and this year they have continued to see that they can compete with anybody.”
In last year’s matchup, the Lakers held a 25-24 halftime lead. However, Taft used a 20-7 run in the third quarter to take control. The Lakers outscored the Senators 23-18 in the fourth period, but it wasn’t enough as Taft won 62-55.
The Senators went on to play in the Division III state final four.
Both teams look very similar to what they did a year ago.
Taft, ranked ninth in the final Division III state poll, is again led by standout guard Rayvon Griffith.
Now a junior, the 6-7 Griffith is averaging 19.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2 steals per game.
He is ranked by the college recruiting site 247Sports as the number-one junior in Ohio and the 45th-best player in his class nationally. He holds scholarship offers from Ohio State, Kansas, UCLA, Louisville and many others.
It’s not a one-man show for the Senators, though.
Senior guard Mekhi Elmore is a handful to defend as well. He did not play against Indian Lake last year because he had to sit out after transferring in from another school. This season, Elmore is averaging 12.2 points and 6.1 assists per game.
Also returning to the Taft lineup is senior guard Brandon Comer, who is averaging 11 points and 3 rebounds per contest.
Up front, Taft (14-8) is led by 6-7 junior Eian Elmer (8.1 points, 7.4 rebounds) and 6-8 freshman Kerian Granville (7.5 points, 10.4 rebounds).
“Their size is impressive,” said Overturf. “I think they are even bigger this year than they were last year.”
Facing a bigger team is nothing new to the Lakers. They were at a size advantage against pretty much every team they have faced this season, but they have been able to use their athleticism and grit to overcome it.
“Our goal is to challenge them and make them get through as many bodies as possible,” said Overturf. “They have a couple of guys that don’t shoot it real well from the perimeter, so we want to make them have to shoot it from the outside.”
Indian Lake will not be intimidated by a talented opponent. The Lakers played a grueling schedule this season, including non-league games against Dayton Christian, Anna, Jackson Center and Versailles, as well as CBC battles vs. North Union, Jonathan Alder, Urbana and Springfield Shawnee.
“We built our schedule that way on purpose,” said Overturf. “We want to be tested. I feel like that has helped us get in the position we are in. Our guys are used to playing very good opponents.”
Indian Lake graduated standout point guard Zander Barnes from last year’s team, but it has relied on the nucleus of seniors Luke Jackson and Caleb Wurster and sophomores Caiden Nicol and Camdon Tuttle to repeat as sectional champions.
Nicol leads the team in scoring at 16.3 points, with Wurster (14.1), Jackson (13.4) and Tuttle (12.4) also in double figures.
Providing support has been seniors Logan Evans and Lukas Schwieterman.
“It all starts with our seniors,” said Overturf. “These guys were freshmen when I took over and they bought in right away. They have embodied our program and set the foundation for our younger players.”
On a big stage Saturday at UC, Overturf will again look to his seniors to provide a calming influence.
“It’s going to be an environment completely new to our guys and we will be playing 11 minutes away from Taft’s school,” said Overturf. “If we can just get settled in and play the way we are capable of playing, we can put ourselves right in it.”