Alter led that game 19-14 at halftime before the Irish rallied around you know who for a 50-46 win. James scored 25 points and had 11 rebounds. Doug Penno led the Knights with 12 points and Eric Laumann added 11.
It was a rematch of their regular-season game at the University of Dayton Arena, which SVSM destroyed Alter 73-40. “The Chosen One” drew a sold-out crowd to UD during a Sunday afternoon snowstorm in which residents were advised to stay indoors.
A senior that season, it would be the third state title for SVSM during James’ career. Ironically, all three of those title games were against area teams: Greeneview in 2000, Miami East in 2001 and Alter in 2003. Roger Bacon beat SVSM in the 2002 final.
Alter (21-5) plays Columbus Watterson (26-1) at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday at Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center. Akron SVSM (19-9) meets Warren (26-1) at 5:15 p.m.
The D-II title game is 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, also at the Schott. All four finals will be carried live on TWC Channel 99.
Realignment: A peewee football program has formed to mirror the Greater Miami Conference. Dave Taylor, president of the Hamilton Jr. Blue Stars Youth Football and Cheer Organization, reports that the Greater Miami Youth Football Conference is now a reality.
The peewee league includes organizations that feed Hamilton, Fairfield, Middletown, Sycamore, Lakota East and Lakota West. Taylor said Colerain and Mason will join in 2014.
The GMYFC is for youths kindergarten through sixth grade and plays fall weekend games.
Next level: Meghan Robinson, a 5-foot-9 forward from Madison, has committed to play basketball for Miami-Middletown University. The senior averaged 3.7 points and 2.1 rebounds for the Mohawks.
- Samantha Cash of Miami East will join teammate Allison Morrett in furthering their volleyball careers at Tennessee Tech. Cash was first -team All-Ohio for the Vikings following last season's Division III state title run. Both juniors have verbally committed to the Golden Eagles of the Ohio Valley Conference.
- Alter senior Sarah Jansing has verbally committed to play soccer at Ursuline College, an NCAA D-II program at suburban Cleveland.
It's an honor: Mason boys basketball coach Greg Richards is one of six winners of the Bob Arnzen Award. He'll be honored by the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association during the boys basketball state tournament on Saturday in Columbus.
The award is for coaches who have spent 20 or more years coaching at the same school.
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