Botkins wins first boys basketball state championship

»STATE SEMIFINALS: Botkins rallies to take down Richmond Heights

Carter Pleiman added 15 points and Jacob Pleiman scored 10. The Trojans shot 56.8 % and Priddy-Powell made 10-of-13 shots.

Botkins had a hot start fueled by Priddy-Powell and the 3-point line. He turned a steal into a layup, hit a 3-pointer, then another three and it was 10-0. Zane Paul’s 3-pointer made it 16-0 at 3:20. The Trojans had made five of their first six shots and all four 3-point attempts. They finished the quarter shooting 77.8 %.

Botkins led 20-7 after one, but Columbus Grove dug in and battled back. The Bulldogs face guarded Priddy-Powell and were down 24-22 heading into the final minute.

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But Botkins answered. Priddy-Powell grabbed a tipped-out rebound and kept the ball in his hands until he was able to attack the lane and hit another pull-up jumper with 35 seconds left. Carter Pleiman followed in a missed shot with 11 seconds left and the Trojans led 28-22 at halftime after shooting 52.4 %.