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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2009 > March > 27 > Entry
blog: Marshall shows “biggest hearts in the state of Ohio”
COLUMBUS — After the game — after Thurgood Marshall launched one of the greatest comebacks in state tournament history — Cougars head coach John Ralph looked at his players and said something none of the 12,415 people at the Schottenstein Center Friday morning would dispute:
“I think our guys have the biggest hearts in the state of Ohio.”
Or, as the still shell-shocked Circleville Logan Elm guard Brandon Amann put it afterward: “Those were the best athletes we’ve faced all year.”
And what do heart and athleticism get you?
They help you come from 12 points down with just 7:36 left in your Division II state semi-final game and win‚ in overtime, 62-53.
In those final 11 1/2 minutes — from the 7:36 mark though overtime — Marshall outscored the No. 2 team in the state 30-9.
The Cougars did it with a withering fill-court press and some great personal performances.
Junior guard Shawn Robinson had 4 steals in that fourth quarter comeback and five points, including the game-tying three pointer with 10 seconds left that sent the thing into overtime.
During that same fourth quarter span, forward DeAngelo Gates — taking up the slack for injured All City center Greg Gainey who could play just four minutes on two sprained ankles — had seven of his game-high 15 rebounds and scored five points.
In overtime, it was all junior guard Juwan Staten, who has verbally committed to the University of Dayton and was watched Friday by Flyers head coach Brian Gregory and assistant Billy Schmidt.
In overtime, Staten made six straight free throws — he was 12 for 12 for the game — had two huge assists and controlled the ball. He finished with a game-high 24 points.
On Saturday, Marshall, now 22-4, will play for the Division II title against the winner of the Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary and Columbus St. Francis DeSales game that is tipping off this afternoon. Circleville finished the season 24-2.
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