Boys tourney: Northridge in first regional final since 1945

Senior Twon Hines shook off a first-half shooting slump and led Northridge to an unlikely 60-56 historical defeat of Columbus Hartley in a boys high school basketball Division II regional semifinal at Fairmont’s Trent Arena on Thursday night.

Northridge (19-7) is paired against mighty Trotwood-Madison (25-2) at 3 p.m. Saturday in the regional final also at Trent. That winner advances to next week’s state final four.

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Trotwood blew out Cincinnati Aiken 96-62 in Thursday’s doubleheader opener.

Northridge hasn’t played in a boys regional final since 1945 when the Polar Bears won a Class B state championship under then-coach Ben Ankney. Last season Trotwood defeated Northridge 96-49 in a district semifinal.

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Just 3 of 20 shooting in the first half, Hines tallied 25 second-half points and a game-high 33 in leading the Polar Bears. Charles Drewery added 13 points and nine rebounds. Ryan Heuser and Morgan Safford each had 15 points for Hartley (17-12).

Hartley led by nine points early and seemed ready to blow out Northridge, especially with Hines missing so often. But the Bears trailed by just four at halftime, then Hines took over.

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It was similar to Northridge’s previously – and unlikely – defeat of Cincinnati Taft in a district final. Taft led by double digits midway through the second half before Northridge rallied again for a 60-58 win on two Hines free throws in the closing seconds.

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