A jam-packed Nutter Center witnessed a Final Four showdown between two of the most exciting teams in Division II, with Massillon pulling away in the 2nd Half for a 75-63 victory over Lima Senior.
The Spartans (22-5) got off to a nice start with Noah Simpson scoring 6 of his 8 points to help Lima Senior build a 17-11 advantage. Xavier Williams then started to take over for the Tigers (26-1), putting up 8 of his game-high 20 points in the frame to give Massillon a slim 32-31 halftime edge.
Massillon continued to build on their momentum in the 3rd Qtr, outscoring the Spartans 21-15 and getting high-flyer Willie Foster (14 pts) in foul trouble. The Tigers would start to create some separation down the stretch with four players ending in double-figures scoring, advancing to the program's first-ever State Championship game.
The Tigers will now take a 23-game winning streak into the Division II title game, where they'll meet defending champion #1 Westerville North (26-1), who has won 21 consecutive games.
DSJ fans cheering on the Lima Senior Spartans as they walk through mid game during DSJ’s win over Malvern in the State Semifinals at Wright State. @DSJBasketball@LimaCitySchools