Today’s game
What: Division I district final
Who: Middletown (18-5) vs. Princeton (18-4)
When: 3 p.m.
Where: University of Dayton Arena
MIDDLETOWN — The Greater Miami Conference title was nice. But this is prime time for Middletown High School’s boys basketball team.
The Middies will go after their first Division I district championship since 1988-89 this afternoon when they face GMC rival Princeton at University of Dayton Arena.
“I am just so March and tournament focused,” Middletown coach Josh Andrews said. “Winning the GMC speaks to the body of work and day-in and day-out toughness, but everything we do year-round as a program is focused on having success in the tournament.”
The Middies are 18-5 and have won four straight. Andrews feels his team is playing its best basketball of the season.
“We have terrific senior leadership and guys that are committed to winning,” he said. “It’s going to take a great punch from somebody to knock us down.”
Princeton (18-4) has the horses to fight Middletown down to the wire. The Vikings have already done it twice this season.
The previous meetings were ferocious affairs. On Jan. 10, the Middies won 81-78 in overtime at Princeton. On Feb. 7, the Middies won 81-79 at home.
Middletown senior guard Geovonie McKnight, the GMC’s top scorer with a 19.8 average, totaled 58 points in those two games.
“I told Josh we’re going to have to start an ESPN Classic channel with Middletown-Princeton games,” Vikings coach Mike Anderson said. “I’m expecting another classic.”
The first two match-ups were high-speed affairs. Lots of pressure, lots of fast breaking. Round 3 should be more of the same.
Princeton, on a five-game winning streak, is the GMC’s highest-scoring squad with a 69.3 average. The Vikings are led by senior guard Deion Isham (14.3), 6-foot-7, 280-pound senior center De’Arius Young (11.6) and junior guard Dorian Jordan (10.5).
Anderson said the return of junior guard Darius Hilson from a knee injury has aided the PHS cause.
“We’re definitely playing the best team basketball we’ve played all season,” Anderson said. “Our guys are practicing really hard. They’re not worried about minutes right now.”
Today’s winner will advance to the regional semifinals at Xavier University on Wednesday, facing either Moeller or Beavercreek at 6:15 p.m.
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