DAYTON, Ohio — Lutheran East hung on to win its second Ohio High School Athletic Association boys' basketball Division III state championship in three years, beating Ottawa-Glandorf, 67-61.

What You Need To Know

  • Lutheran East won its second state title in three years, beating Ottawa-Glandorf 67-61 in the OHSAA Division III championship

  • The Falcons have won four (2023, 2021, 2017 and 2005) state championships

  • Cody Head had 19 points to lead Lutheran East, Colin White's 18 topped Ottawa-Glandorf

The Falcons used a 15-3 run in the second quarter, which opened a 30-18 lead, that was trimmed to nine when Colin White beat the first-half buzzer with a deep three-pointer.

Trailing by as many as 14 in the fourth quarter, the Titans pulled to within four with 5.5 seconds left, but Nelson Johnson, Jr.’s pair of three throws provided the final margin.

Both teams sharpened their shooting from the outside in the third quarter, combining to make seven three-point shots. Lutheran East (22-5) went four of seven from behind the arc, while Ottawa-Glandorf (26-4) converted on three of five over those eight minutes.

For the game, the Falcons made 47.1% (eight of 17) from three-point land, while the Titans countered with 45.8% (11 of 24).

Cody Head, who was phenomenal all tournament, had a game-high 19 points for Lutheran East. TJ Crumble and Ronald Taylor added 12 each.

White’s 18 points were best for Ottawa-Glandorf, followed by Hunter Stechschulte’s 14 and Caden Erford’s ten.

The Titans 16-game winning streak came to an end, and for the second straight year, Ottawa-Glandorf’s season ended in the state title game. Both teams lost in last year’s Division III state tournament to eventual state champion Cincinnati Taft, as the Senators beat Lutheran East in the semifinal, and OG in the final.

It’s the fourth state title overall for “The Lue”, and second in three years. The Falcons also were state champions in 2017 and 2005. The Falcons defeated Harvest Prep, 65-44, in Saturday’s semifinal.