COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Look out, Northeast Ohio. Roger Bacon is back in the state final again.
Roger Bacon will attempt to capture its first state boys’ basketball title since its famous upset of LeBron James-led Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in 2002 on Saturday night.
PHOTO GALLERY: Roger Bacon 68, Archbold 43
The Spartans (25-4) play Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph (22-6) in a Division III state final at 5:15 p.m. Saturday at the Schottenstein Center.
“We’re ecstatic to be playing on Saturday,” Roger Bacon coach Brian Neal said.
Roger Bacon forward Justin Johnson puts in two against Archbold during their Division III state semifinal game. (E.L. Hubbard/WCPO Contributor)
Roger Bacon defeated Archbold 68-43 in a state semifinal Friday afternoon in front of 9,396 at the Schottenstein Center.
Senior forwards Justin Johnson and James Johnson scored 15 points each to lead the Spartans. Senior point guard Craig McGee Jr. had 12 points, four steals and three assists.
The game was put out of reach by halftime. Roger Bacon's physical style was too much for Archbold, a team from the Toledo area in Fulton County.
“It was a great time,” said McGee, who's in the third state Final Four of his high school career. “Anytime you play on the Ohio State court it’s a dream come true. I am just glad we were able to advance and play on Saturday.”
Roger Bacon https://t.co/Aevk6kVT60
— Mike Dyer (@MikeDyer) March 24, 2017
Sophomore guard Alec Pfriem had 12 points, six rebounds and four steals.
The Spartans made their third state Final Four since 2014 Friday and did not disappoint.
Neal admitted the Spartans were a bit wide-eyed at playing on a large stage at Ohio State last March, but the Spartans showed no signs of tentativeness this year.
He said the Spartans are ready for Saturday. It’s a golden opportunity to earn the school’s third state title.
“We’re halfway there,” Neal said. “We have a big test in front of us. A fantastic team that is going to give us a great game. I hope we give them a great game. That’s the message (to the team). At 5:15 tomorrow we need to play the best basketball game of our lives.”
On Friday, Roger Bacon led 9-0 in the first four minutes. Archbold had some good looks but shot 0-of-9 from the field before a 3-pointer at the 2:42 mark. Pfriem had four steals in less than three minutes.
“The worst worry kind of came true,” Archbold coach Doug Krauss said. “We went into the game thinking we had to make some shots and shoot well. We came out and missed a few early.”
Archbold (22-6) was led by junior guard Bryce Williams, who had 11 points and six rebounds.
The Spartans dazzled the crowd in the second quarter. McGee found senior forward Justin Johnson for an alley-oop to make it 18-5.
“It certainly felt like our athleticism gave us an advantage,” Neal said.
Roger Bacon went up 30-8 on junior guard Brandon Bibbs’ layup at the 3:02 mark of the second quarter.
The Spartans led 35-16 at halftime. McGee had eight points, three assists and two steals in the first half. Johnson had seven points.
Roger Bacon guard Alec Pfriem passes the ball while jumping over Archbold guard Eli Miller during their Division III state semifinal game. (E.L. Hubbard/WCPO Contributor)
The game wasn’t close in the second half. Roger Bacon led 55-24 at the end of the third quarter.
With four minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Roger Bacon student section started to chant, “We want state.”
Roger Bacon was a Division III state semifinalist in 2016 and 2014. The Spartans defeated Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary 71-63 in the Division II final March 23, 2002.
The Spartans won the AAA state title in 1982. Roger Bacon was a 1939 Class A state runner-up and a Class A state qualifier in 1938.
Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph was a Division III state runner-up in 2016 and a state champion in 2015. The Vikings have also won state titles in 2013, 1995, 1994, 1992 and 1991.
