Boys tourney: Anna back at regional first time since 2010

Like so many other great boys basketball teams that met their match in a district final, Anna used that disappointment as fuel for this season.

“That was ultimately our goal,” said Anna High School senior Griffin Doseck, who was key in a 68-59 Division III district final defeat of Cincinnati Clark Montessori at the University of Dayton Arena on Sunday. “We wanted to at least get here, win here and get to the regional. We knew we had a good enough team to do that.”

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Sure enough, Anna (24-2) advances to a D-III regional semifinal against Stivers (20-4) at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Fairmont’s Trent Arena. Wednesday’s 5:30 p.m. D-III boys regional semi opener is Versailles (15-10) vs. Cincinnati Purcell Marian (22-4).

Those four teams all won district championships at UD on Sunday.

Anna, out of the Shelby County Athletic League, will make its first regional appearance since 2010. Trailing by four at halftime, the Rockets went often inside to the 6-foot-5 Doseck and he responded with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Junior Bart Bixler led Anna with 23 points and Riley Huelskamp, another junior guard, added 12.

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Last season Anna was eliminated by Purcell Marian in a D-III district final.

“It means we’re finally establishing some success and hopefully that success will breed success,” said Anna coach Nate Barhorst, in his eighth season as the Rockets’ head coach.

“I’ve learned over the course of the years what you’ve got to get better with. That’s developing relationships with the kids, finding the cohesiveness and knowing what buttons to press and what you can and cannot do. The other thing is trusting your coaches and what they’re doing in development, too. We’ve got a great staff and the youth feeder program is doing their job, too.”

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Clark Montessori (15-9) was led by D’Shawnti Hawkins with 29 points. The Cougars are coached by Wally Vickers, previously the head coach at Lakota East.

Cin. Purcell Marian 51, National Trail 31: It was only the second appearance for National Trail in a district final, but the Trail Blazers (19-6) couldn't get past the defensive might of the Greater Catholic League Co-Ed Central champ Cavaliers.

Sophomore guard Cameron Harrison, the son of coach Mike Harrison, led National Trail with eight points and five assists. It was a season low point total for the Blazers, the last remaining Cross County Conference team in the postseason.

Coldwater boys 70, Ottawa-Glandorf 67: The streaking Cavaliers hit 12 three-pointers and registered their second straight significant upset to win a D-III district title at Lima Senior on Saturday. Coldwater (17-9) will play Willard (21-3) in a D-III regional semi at Bowling Green State University's Stroh Center at 8 p.m. Thursday.

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Cole Frilling has 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead Coldwater. The Cavaliers stunned previously unbeaten Archbold 35-34 in a district semifinal. With its usual late season start because of a deep football playoff run, Coldwater began 0-4. The Cavs will take an eight-game win streak against Willard.

• A week-long run of boys basketball regionals begins with the D-IV semifinals on Tuesday at Trent. SCAL rivals Fort Loramie (19-7) and Jackson Center (21-5) are sure to produce a capacity crowd in the 5:30 p.m. opener. Ohio Heritage Conference rep Springfield Catholic Central (22-3) and St. Henry (22-3) of the Midwest Athletic Conference should do the same in the 8 p.m. nightcap.

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Jackson Center swept Fort Loramie in the regular season by a combined nine points. St. Henry has mounted a 14-game win streak since losing 60-44 to visiting Anna in the regular season. Catholic Central has won 14 of its last 15 games. The semifinal winners will play for the D-IV regional championship at 7 p.m. Friday at Trent.

• The boys Divisions I and III regional semifinals are at Xavier University’s Cintas Center (D-I) and Trent (D-III) on Wednesday. The boys D-II regional semifinals are at Trent on Thursday. The Division I, II and III regional finals are all Saturday at those same locations.

• All-Ohio girls basketball teams will be released by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association to coincide with this week’s season-ending state final fours at Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

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The girls All-Ohio Division III and IV teams will be announced on Tuesday and Divisions I and II and Wednesday. Ms. Basketball will be announced on Thursday.

The boys All-Ohio basketball teams will follow the same release schedule next week to coincide with the boys state tournament also at the Schott.

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• Among the 16 teams that make up the four girls state semifinals are two unbeatens and both are lumped in D-III. Waynesville (26-0) and coach Tim Gabbard is paired against Doylestown Chippewa (25-1) at 3 p.m. Thursday. Prior to that, it’s top-ranked Columbus Africentric (26-0) vs. Berlin Hiland (26-2) at 1 p.m. Africentric is the defending D-III state champ and has won six state titles since 2007.

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• Boys and girls lacrosse are first up on Friday to open regular-season play for the spring seasons. The boys tennis regular season starts Friday, March 22. The regular season begins for baseball, softball and girls and boys track and field on Saturday, March 23.

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»» RELATED: All-Southwestern District teams

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