Boys basketball: Dennis comes up clutch again, Trotwood wins D-III state championship

Trotwood is the championship game for the third time, winning the D-II title in 2019 and finishing as runner-up at 2006. Steubenville’s only other appearance at state came in 1952 when it lost to Middletown in the Class A finals.

Trotwood defeated Toledo Central Catholic 55-53 in Thursday’s first semifinal. Steubenville beat Akron Archbishop Hoban 60-58 in the other semifinal.

Check back for updates from the postgame, including more photos and videos.

FOURTH QUARTER

Trotwood has won the D-III state championship in a fashion it has been used to all throughout the postseason. Darius Dennis again hits the winning basket in the final seconds.

Steubenville closed its deficit to four to begin the final quarter. Justyce Taylor grabbed a big offensive rebound and scored on a put back to again keep the Big Red at bay.

Steubenville found open looks from deep but the accuracy remained off.

Trotwood got a clutch steal and run out basket by Chase Shumate to lead by seven with a little under five minutes to play.

Tre’Von Wiggins hit a three from the corner that put Steubenville as close as they had been the entire game, 45-44, with 2:15 to play.

Steubenville fouled Taylor the first opportunity they had to put him at the line with 1:07 left. He made one of two. Cole Bowers went to the line with 31.6 seconds to play and for the first time all night got the Big Red into a tie game.

Dennis missed a layup at the other end and a put back didn’t fall either. Dennis fouled Santino Haney, who made the second of two shots to put Steubenville in the lead for the first time with 22.1 left.

He redeemed himself and found his end of game magic again by entering the lane and putting home a floater with just over eight seconds to play.

Steubenville got a final look at the basket but their final shot bounced around the rim and out to start the celebrate for Trotwood.

Dennis had 17 points and 14 rebounds in the win.

THIRD QUARTER

Fourth quarter is all that remains for Trotwood. They lead Steubenville 36-29.

Je’Carious Reaves gave Trotwood its first double-digit lead of the night with a nifty dribble to head into the basket uncontested roughly a minute into the half.

The Rams went into a cold spell for close to five minutes, but Steubenville wasn’t able to capitalize. The Big Red again struggled early in the quarter shooting the ball.

Twice Steubenville looked close to building momentum late in the period before Trotwood answered with a basket each time.

SECOND QUARTER

Trotwood heads into halftime leading 25-19.

Steubenville found some life by pushing the pace themselves as the game picked up a bit of sloppiness by both sides.

The Big Red had Cole Bowers connect on the first three of the game to pull within 15-13. The Rams scored the next four to push their lead back to two possessions.

Trotwood has yet to hit a three, but is 12-for-21inside the arc.

Darius Dennis is one point and rebound shy of a double-double. Je’Carious Reaves has scored eight for Trotwood.

Steubenville is led by Santino Haney with nine points. As a team, the Big Red are 1 of 12 from three.

FIRST QUARTER

Trotwood leads Steubenville 11-6 after the initial eight minutes.

Darius Dennis, the hero from the semifinals, got the scoring started for Trotwood with a floater off the glass a little more than a minute in.

The Rams wasted no time pushing the pace and extended the lead to 4-0 when Je’Carious Reaves laid the ball in on a fast break afterward.

Steubenville didn’t turn the ball over early, but missed its first nine shots and twice were blocked in the lane.

The Big Red found a quick 6-0 spurt near the end of the quarter to close the gap.

Both post players for Trotwood, Ryland Dawson and Justyce Taylor, as well as Chase Shumate picked up two fouls in the first. Jameer Whyce and Khylan Trigg closed out the period on the floor. Those two combined to play two total minutes in Trotwood’s semifinal game.