The Cougars (20-5) are still seeking their first district win and will meet South Charleston Southeastern (24-1) on Friday night at the University of Dayton Arena.
“Basketball has been a huge part of my life for 12-plus years,” said Roberts, who has signed with Taylor University and will play golf for the Upland, Ind., school. “I’m glad I’m going to be able to play a sport in college, but this is it for me and a lot of the guys out here, so we’re trying to make it last as long as possible.”
CCS is riding an eight-game winning streak, having responded to three straight defeats just over a month ago. Roberts said the Cougars did some “soul searching” after losing at Cincinnati Country Day on Feb. 2, and they haven’t lost since.
Cincinnati Christian would love to become the first regional squad in school history, but fourth-year coach Carl Woods said his players need to relax and forget about the 2013 and 2016 district losses to Jackson Center.
“We’re not going to continue to beat a dead horse,” Woods said. “The pressure is already enough for the guys, the pressure of not wanting to end your season. They don’t need to have added pressure. If we execute and play some ball, we feel that good things will happen and we’ll be victorious. We’re ready to get it on and see what God has in store for us.”
Southeastern, the Ohio Heritage Conference South Division champion, made it to the regional semifinals last year and was ousted by Jackson Center.
The Trojans have a pair of 1,000-point scorers in 6-foot-4 senior forward Andrew Lyons and 5-8 senior point guard Colton Spears. Jacob Bertemes has moved on to Wittenberg University after earning first-team All-Ohio honors last season.
“Losing an all-state guy, we didn’t really know how this would come together,” third-year Southeastern coach Brian Hecker said. “Obviously 24-1 wasn’t expected, but we knew we would be pretty good, and we knew we’d have an opportunity to get back here this year. But we knew it wasn’t a given.
“I’m proud of the kids and the way they’ve played. I guess the chemistry has been the key, guys learning how to play together and embracing their roles. I don’t know if surprised is the right word. The chemistry’s just been the key in us reaching our potential.”
Lyons (18.7), 5-11 senior guard Trevor King (16.6) and Spears (13.5) do most of the Trojans’ scoring. The other starters are 6-4 junior forward Chase Billet and 6-2 sophomore forward Charlie Bertemes.
“I would say we’re more quick and athletic than big and physical,” Hecker said. “We like to push the ball in transition and try to get easy buckets. If we don’t get anything from that, we’ll work it around and see what we can get.”
He said Southeastern doesn’t launch a ton of 3-pointers, but the team has some shooters. Hecker also said the Trojans’ halfcourt man-to-man defense is a strength.
The Cougars play a fast-paced, full-court game, and Hecker said Southeastern sees mostly the opposite in the OHC.
“It will be interesting to see how we do Friday because we haven’t seen that style in a while. I’m kind of excited for it,” the SHS coach said. “I think we can play both styles. I don’t know which one suits us better.”
CCS will start 6-2 freshman forward Cameron Rogers and four seniors — 6-2 guard Roberts, 6-1 guards Dylan Woods and Josh Oates, and 6-3 forward Christian Keese.
Woods (14.3), Keese (11.3) and Roberts (8.2) are the leading scorers. Woods became the third player in CCS history to reach the 1,000-point mark against Hillcrest on Feb. 25.
“We’re going to play our game,” Carl Woods said. “We’ll definitely go fullcourt tempo and pressure and try to wear them out. They’re a very disciplined ballclub. They can slash very, very well, and they have some shooters. We think it’s a very, very good matchup.”
Neither side is thrilled with the 9:30 p.m. tipoff time as the last of three Friday games at UD Arena.
“I’ve been selling it to our guys as prime time,” Carl Woods quipped. “It’s like playing on the West Coast.”
Roberts missed a large portion of last season after undergoing surgery for a torn labrum. He returned at the end of the year and did get to play in the district final.
Woods said people had sort of forgotten about Roberts coming into this season because he was sidelined so long last year. But Roberts is shooting 48.3 percent from 3-point range and 88.2 percent from the line in 2016-17.
“Brady’s a phenomenal talent,” Woods said. “The kid has excelled at almost every sport that he’s put his hands on, be it golf, soccer or basketball. He’s just an athlete.”
“I feel there’s a little bit of a hole left there for me to fill this year,” Roberts said. “I feel like I have a lot bigger role. Me and a couple of the guys are leaders, and we’re going to try and rally the troops on Friday and do something special.”
Friday’s game
What: Division IV district final, Cincinnati Christian (20-5) vs. South Charleston Southeastern (24-1)
When: 9:30 p.m.
Where: University of Dayton Arena, 1801 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd., Dayton
Next: Winner advances to a regional semifinal Tuesday at Fairmont's Trent Arena, facing either Jackson Center or New Madison Tri-Village at 8 p.m.
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