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Hoban Takes Down The Defending Champions For First Title Since 1989

Hoban first
Photo by Billy Kosco

When the buzzer sounded late Sunday night at UD Arena, a full circle was completed for the Griffith family.

34 years after winning the state title as a senior, TK Griffith wins it as head coach, with his son Andrew scoring nine points in his high school finale.

Hoban first

Photo by Billy Kosco

With the odds stacked against them, Hoban came away with a 53-47 win over “Mr. Basketball” Devin Royal and defending champion Pickerington Central.

Hoban Proves They Can Compete

While to many, Pickerington Central seemed like a lock to repeat as champions, Hoban came out of the gates ready to do battle.

One of the key battles they won in the first half was on the offensive glass. Logan Vowles and Sam Greer combined for seven of Hoban’s 10 boards. Despite mediocre shooting, these second chance opportunities kept the Knights within reach.

A Slow Third Quarter

The two teams combined to shoot 4-for-18 in an ugly third quarter that ended with the score tied at 31. Despite not having a single point through three quarters, standout junior Jonas Nichols picked up his third steal right before the buzzer to add to an impressive defensive display.

Logan Vowles and Sam Greer Take Over

With a state title within reach, it was the senior/freshman duo of Logan Vowles and Sam Greer who took control of the game.

Greer, who finished with 12 points, made a couple of big post shots, while Vowles buried back-to-back threes to extend the Hoban lead to 49-37.

Pick Central worked their deficit to six, but clutch free throws down the stretch sealed the upset victory for Hoban.

How Hoban Got Here

Playing several games in which they were perceived as the “underdog”, Hoban continued to rise to the occasion and win the big ones.

After taking down St. Edward and blowing out Walsh Jesuit, it was clear that the Knights were a serious contender in Division I.

The recipe for success? An excellent backcourt, strong shooting wings, and a 6-foot-8 offensive lineman holding down the paint.

This was a special group that had a storybook ending to their season. The circle is complete, and the hardware is heading back to Akron once again.

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