GWOC boys: Fairmont, Wayne post sectional semi wins

Fairmont waited until retreating to the locker room to celebrate an emotional knockout of Butler in a boys Division I sectional semifinal on Wednesday. Good thing.

“We went crazy,” admitted Fairmont senior Ryan Hall following the 64-53 boys high school basketball win. “We just let all our emotions out. I’m surprised you couldn’t hear it.”

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The Firebirds went daffy because their postseason reboot has landed them in a D-I sectional final against Wayne at 7 p.m. Saturday at Centerville. Wayne advanced by dodging Beavercreek 53-49 in Wednesday’s doubleheader opener before a capacity crowd.

Fairmont (16-8) lost its final three regular-season games, all of which were Greater Western Ohio Conference National East matchups, two points each to Centerville and Beavercreek, and a blowout by Springfield. Fairmont recovered with a first-round blitz of Franklin that was trumped by toppling No. 3 seed Butler.

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“If you don’t let nights like that break you, then you have money in the bank for games like this where you make some deposits that are really tough,” Fairmont coach Blair Albright said. “We’ve had a lot of disappointing outcomes in those games, but you hope that it helps you in a big game like this.”

Hall had a game-high 19 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter. Fairmont’s Kellan Bochenek added 15 points and Andre O’Daniel 10.

Senior Michael Kreill had 17 points to lead Butler, which trailed throughout, including 18 points early in the second quarter. Butler closed within seven midway through the fourth quarter on consecutive Kreill buckets but no closer.

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The Aviators (21-3) had an 11-game win streak snapped, tied a program record for most season wins and won an outright GWOC American North title.

“We dug that big hole and it was hard to dig out,” said Butler coach Darren Wyrick.

Wayne 53, Beavercreek 49: Ronnie Hampton had 20 points as the Warriors (14-9) dodged an upset bid by No. 14 seed Beavercreek (8-15). Chris Herbort led the Beavers with 16 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter.

“It’s all about finding a way and that’s what it takes in a tournament,” Wayne coach Nate Martindale said. “You’re not going to always play your ‘A’ game. Give Beavercreek a lot of credit.”

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Waynesville 49, Troy Christian 44: Ryan Papanek and Luke Kindred each had 11 points for the Spartans in a D-III sectional semi at Butler. Waynesville (16-7) will play Stivers (18-4) in a sectional final at 4 p.m. Saturday at Butler. Stivers advanced with a 59-38 defeat of Dixie on Wednesday.

Emmanuel Christian 49, Miami Valley 29: Casey Swank had five 3-pointers and 19 points in leading the Lions in a D-IV sectional semi at Troy. Emmanuel Christian (19-5) will play Catholic Central (20-3) in the sectional championship at 7 p.m. Saturday at Troy. The Irish advanced with a 53-33 defeat of Yellow Springs on Wednesday.

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• Four boys sectional finals will be played on Friday, all at 7 p.m.: Xenia (13-10) vs. Centerville (19-5), D-I at Trotwood; Northridge (16-7) vs. Ben Logan (13-10), D-II at Springfield; Ansonia (14-10) vs. Fort Loramie (17-7), D-IV at Piqua; and Franklin Monroe (14-9) vs. Newton (8-15), D-IV at Troy.

Franklin Monroe girls 42, Covington 34: Chloe McGlinch had 19 points and the Jets' limited Buccs' all-time career scoring leader Samantha Whiteman to 11 in a D-IV sectional final at Brookville on Wednesday. FM (19-6) will play Legacy Christian (22-2) in a district final at 11 a.m. Saturday at Troy. Kathleen Ahnek had 19 points, including a pair of fourth-quarter 3-pointers, in Legacy's 41-38 defeat of Russia.

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Tri-Village girls 55, Bradford 49 OT: Lissa Siler had 28 points and the Patriots outscored the Railroaders 6-0 in overtime – all on free throws – in a D-IV sectional final at Brookville. Rylee Canan's 3-ointer with four seconds left in regulation forced OT. Tri-Village (23-1) will play Cincinnati Country Day (20-4) in a district final at 3 p.m. Saturday at Troy.

Fort Loramie girls 63, Mechanicsburg 28: Dana Rose had 15 points in leading the top-seeded Redskins in a D-IV sectional final at Sidney. Loramie (24-1) is paired against Cedarville (13-10) in a D-IV district final at 11 a.m. Saturday at Troy.

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• There will be three girls D-II district finals at Mason on Friday: Tippecanoe vs. Franklin at 5 p.m., Valley View vs. Indian Hill at 7 p.m. and Carroll vs. McNicholas at 9 p.m. All the winners advance to the D-II regional semifinal at Springfield on Tuesday, including a Westerville district rep.

Divisions I, III and IV girls district finals will be on Saturday.

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