GUARDED CLOSE — Big Red’s Aiden Davis is surrounded by University defenders as he looks to make a pass during Tuesday’s OVAC Class 5A semifinal inside the Crimson Center. Davis had a game-high 22 points to help Big Red to an 82-69 victory. – Andrew Grimm
STEUBENVILLE — Big Red started off a bit rocky in their OVAC 5A tournament semifinal against University on Tuesday. Their shooting was off, and they struggled to grab rebounds.
But after a challenging first quarter, they found their rhythm.
Despite trailing at the end of the first quarter and facing a nine-point deficit early in the second, Steubenville turned things around dramatically. They went on a stunning 21-point scoring streak, closing the first half with a 24-2 run, and entered halftime up by 13 points. From that point, they took control and secured an 82-69 win.
“In the first quarter, they hurt us with offensive rebounds and putbacks. It was tough, but we were only down three at that point,” said Big Red’s coach Mike Haney. “In the second quarter, we improved our defense, created turnovers, and started hitting shots. When our shots drop, we can really score quickly.”
Aiden Davis was instrumental in their comeback, hitting two three-pointers during the 21-0 run. Tre Wiggins capped off the half with a three-pointer at the buzzer, extending their lead further. Though the Hawks managed to close the gap to eight points in the third quarter, Big Red responded, pushing their lead to a maximum of 17 in the fourth quarter.
After scoring just 12 points in the first quarter, Steubenville turned things around with at least 21 points in each of the last three quarters. All five starters contributed significantly, each scoring in double digits and the team recording a total of 22 assists.
“We did a great job of sharing the ball,” Haney noted. “Even when they pressed us, we got the ball up quickly and scored layups. All our starters accounted for the 82 points, but we also had great contributions on defense and the boards from the bench. It was truly a team effort.”
Davis was the star of the night with 22 points, three assists, and three rebounds. Santino Haney recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 assists, along with four rebounds and three steals. Wiggins added 17 points, and Will Taylor tallied 15 points with five rebounds. Cole Bowers contributed 12 points as well.
For University, Glenn Brown led with 21 points off the bench, including six three-pointers, while Zach Demidovich had 13 points and nine rebounds. Luke Byrer finished with 15 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
“University is a strong team with good shooters,” Haney said of their opponent. “Brown was especially impressive hitting those shots. We just focused on playing together.”
What’s Next:
University will face Parkersburg South in the third-place game on Friday. Big Red will take on top-seeded Morgantown in the Class 5A championship on Saturday at noon at the ECO Center. They also have a senior night game against River tonight.
OVAC Boys Basketball Tournament
Class 5A Semifinals
No. 2 Steubenville 82, No. 3 University 69
Quarter Scores: U 15-11-21-22 – 69
S 12-27-21-22 – 82
University (11-5): Demidovich 13, Adams 7, Karpinski 5, Lewis 8, Byrer 15, Brown 21
Totals: 28, 4-6; 69
Steubenville (16-2): Davis 22, Haney 16, Wiggins 17, Bowers 12, Taylor 15
Totals: 32, 8-13; 82
3-Pointers: University 9 (Brown 6); Steubenville 10 (Davis 6)
Assists: University 15; Steubenville 22 (Haney 11)
Rebounds: University 26; Steubenville 23
Steals: University 3; Steubenville 8
Turnovers: University 8; Steubenville 10
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