DAYTON, Ohio — Akron Buchtel (24-6) captured the school’s first Ohio High School Athletic Association boys' basketball championship, 51-49, in the Division II final.

What You Need To Know

  • Buchtel won a thrilling, 51-49 OHSAA Division II boys' basketball state championship game

  • Marcel Boyce, Jr made two free throws with 18.7 seconds left for the winning margin

  • Lutheran West's Joshua Meyer potentially tied the game, but replay confirmed the shot was after the horn

Joshua Meyer’s basket with three seconds left in the semifinal sent Lutheran West to the state championship game. However, in that title contest, his potentially winning basket came just after the horn, as the Longhorns came up just short.

The Griffins’ Marcel Boyce, Jr. was fouled with 18.7 seconds left, and the game tied at 49, with his converted free throws the difference in the game.

Lutheran West inbounded the ball near its own bench with 3.8 on the clock, and while Jayson Levis lost his balance, he got the ball to Meyer, whose shot went in. Originally called good on the floor, that call was overturned upon review of replay. 

Boyce was the game’s high scorer, with 18, while Khoi Thurmon added 11, and Jayden Maxwell ten. For the Longhorns, Matthew Meyer had 12, and Levis ten.

It was a thrilling, back-and-forth game, with a total of nine ties, and 11 lead changes. The largest cushion was only five points (for each in the first half), and just four after the break.

The halftime score was 30-27 in favor of the Longhorns (26-4), thanks to a Junior Kambomba three-pointer for a 28-27 lead, and then Jayson Levis stole the inbound pass and scored for a 5-0 burst in a matter of seconds.

After seven trips to the final four, Buchtel finally earned the school’s first state championship, also appearing in the final in 1997. The Griffins beat previously undefeated Bishop Ready 60-50 in the state semifinal.