The Massillon Jackson Polar Bears won their third-straight Federal League Championship with a resounding 66-49 win over North Canton Hoover.
Jackson (16-1, 10-1) is currently ranked No. 3 in the state, while Hoover (13-3, 8-3) is ranked No. 5.
Jackson’s only loss of the season came on the road at Hoover on Jan. 10.
Tickets sold out a day before the game and to call it a playoff atmosphere would have been an understatement. More than 2,100 fans packed the gym.
Here are just a few short clips to give an idea of what it was like inside “The Water Park,” home of the Polar Bears.
@PurpleNGoldCrew atmosphere before national anthem. Fans sing Massillon Jackson alma mater pic.twitter.com/FJUlAbEkDs
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) February 4, 2017
Jackson’s starting lineups might be the second-most hyped up introductions of any basketball team in the state. All they’re missing is the fire shooting out of the scoreboard.
@PurpleNGoldCrew starting lineups are official pic.twitter.com/40u9kTwMyS
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) February 4, 2017
Hoover brought a strong contingency of fans to enemy territory.
@HooverHoops had a great crowd on hand tonight pic.twitter.com/B2jQ0Kd24K
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) February 4, 2017
Once the game got underway, it was clear Jackson was out to make a statement.
The first quarter was close, but Jackson owned momentum most of the way, leading 18-13 after one.
The Polar Bears stepped on the gas in the second, outscoring the Vikings 18-8 in the quarter.
Hoover’s Matt Chufar kept the Vikings in the game for most of the second half, but Jackson began to pull away in the closing minutes, and in came the dunks.
Kyle Young made his presence known, scoring 12 points on the night.
Jackson's @PurpleNGoldCrew forward @kyleyoung_35 with 2 of his 12 points here in the 66-49 over @HooverHoops to win the Federal League. pic.twitter.com/gMbaxLIOd3
— News-Talk 1480 WHBC (@1480whbc) February 4, 2017
Logan Hill also scored 12 points, throwing down five dunks on the night.
Logan Hill throws it down for @PurpleNGoldCrew
55-38 Jackson.@NEO_Spotlight @3HSsports pic.twitter.com/NZU8tDalIQ
— Matt Medley (@MedleyHoops) February 4, 2017
Another highlight from Hill:
Jackson's @PurpleNGoldCrew forward @Logan_Hill41 with 2 of his 12 points here in the 66-49 over @HooverHoops to win the Federal League. pic.twitter.com/3mAGTaoAGr
— News-Talk 1480 WHBC (@1480whbc) February 4, 2017
While Hill and Young brought the house down (and almost took the rim with it), Kyle Nicholas was the steady leader most of the night, scoring a team-high 18 points and dishing out four assists.
Chufar scored a game-high 27 points in the loss, draining five 3-pointers.
Appropriately, Jackson’s student section stormed the court in celebration of winning a third-consecutive conference title.
Jackson Storms the Court .@PurpleNGoldCrew @J_Horsemen @jhsmrsmazur @Lady_BearsBBall @JHSbaseball2014 @jbearsfootball pic.twitter.com/4ML03rvPku
— Big Time Sports (@btsohio) February 4, 2017
The Polar Bears have even bigger goals ahead of them in the coming weeks, but Friday night was a memorable one, which no one in that building will soon forget.
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