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| What did LBJ say about the 2-Time Ohio Player of the Year in Torrey Patton? |
Rams let one slip away as St V wins at buzzer
The Trotwood Rams felt like they had a good chance to win the State this year, considering they would take on a team who they beat earlier in the season in the Semifinal game.
Taking on Akron St Vincent St Mary, the prestigious HS that LeBron James went to, didn't seem that tough, as the Rams put a 100 spot on them in January (100-61).
However, Coach Dru Joyce is hard to beat twice in a season, delivering the game plan to slow down the Rams, and that's exactly what happened as Akron St. Vincent upset Trotwood 62-60.
The Rams shot poorly in the 1st half (10-36) and it cost them as they trailed heading into 2nd half.
Trotwood finally settled into the game in the 3rd quarter, but by that time Akron star F Jayvon Graves had already had 3 monster dunks in the game, and was the star of the 1st half.
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| Jayvon Graves throws down one of his powerful dunks vs Trotwood in D-2 Semifinal |
In the 2nd half it was "Patton Time" as Star G Torrey Patton took over the game for the Rams.
Patton scored 15 of his OHSAA D-2 record 34 points in the 1st half to keep Trotwood afloat, then electrified the crowd by dropping 19 in the 2nd half to guide the Rams to the lead.
St.V had no answer for the 6'4 2-Time Player of the Year, and it became a highlight show in the 2nd half.
Patton would finish with 34, 11 boards, a block and a steal. And his normal 4th quarter clutch play was in effect.
So much so that LeBron himself had to make a couple calls after the game to find out who this Patton kid was.
And to also find out why he hasn't received a offer from a D-1 yet as well.
"We couldn't stop him" James said.
"Who is this Patton kid?"
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| All-Ohio G Torrey Patton puts up a FT in State Title Game vs Akron SVSM |
But St V kept fighting, and a 4-point lead (56-52) for the Rams late in the 4th turned into the decisive 10-2 run, (led by Graves), as St V would take advantage of back to back turnovers by the Rams.
After the final basket (a floater by Graves as the time expired), St V, and LBJ knows that they pulled off one of their greatest wins in the Dru Joyce era.
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| Akron SVSM celebrates upset win over Trotwood Madison in OHSAA State Semifinal game |
They stormed the court, sans the coaches, and the players celebrated all the way down to the Trotwood side of the court.
They knew that they had sleighed the best team in D-2, and possibly in all of Ohio.
For Trotwood?
Utter disbelief, and shock. The players were stunned, and the fans, hurt.
Even the press row was shocked as the Rams came into the Final four averaging 90 ppg and being the "It Squad" for the weekend in Columbus.
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| Sr G Amir Foster shoots one over the backboard in the Semifinal Game vs Akron SVSM |
Still a very good season for the Rams.
But it definitely will be a game that will resonate in the minds of the Rams as they know they let one slip away.
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| Highly touted Junior Myles Belyeu tallied 13 points, 4 rebs, 3 steals for the Rams in the Semifinals |
Trotwood had 3 players in double figures as Junior Myles Belyeu dropped 13 and Sophomore sensation Amari Davis added 10. Amir Foster led the Rams with 5 assists.
Jayvon Graves led St. V with 22 pts, 10 boards and 3 steals.
St. V wins State Title; Cleveland dominates Tourney
Akron St Vincent St Mary's defeated Wauseon 45-30 to take another State Championship. Wauseon, who had only lost once before the game, felt good about their chances.
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| Akron St Vincent St Mary, OHSAA D-2 Champs |
But Star F Jayvon Graves, (Buffalo) came up big with 25 points, sealing the deal as Tourney MVP, and State Champs to boot.
Salute the champs, as Coach Dru Joyce won his 7th State Title.
This one might be one of the sweetest, considering how we won it this season, having to defeat a team in the Semis who hammered them by almost 40 earlier in the season.
LeBron reaches out to Patton; Akron, Toledo in the mix
LeBron James, sat and watched himself the OHSAA State Semifinal Game from out of town as he and the Cavs were on a road trip. His St. V squad would take on the team who dismantled them in Dayton in January, so while he wouldn't be able to root on his boys in Columbus, he'd be able to check out the game on TV against the heavily favored Trotwood Rams.
The King wanted to know, "Were they really that good as advertised?
And did his St. V boys have a real shot?
What he would see made him pick up the phone and call his old coach, as he usually does if he's not in attendance.
But this time, there would be a couple questions about the other team, and a player in particular.
Torrey Patton, to be exact.
LeBron is all about the big stage, and after watching what the 6'4 combo guard did to his Alma Mater, he had to inquire, along with coach Joyce.
"Who is this Patton kid, and where is he going to school?"
When Coach Joyce found out the lack of offers he had before the Tourney, he was befuddled.
"I would definitely recruit him if I was a college coach, but hey what do I know?
We couldn't stop him" Joyce said.
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| Patton set OHSAA record for most points in a D-2 Title Game (34) |
Then LeBron decided to take things into his own hands.
LBJ reached out, made a couple calls, to congratulate Patton on his record setting performance and to inquire about his future.
Since then, Patton has recieved serious consideration from Akron, Toledo, Niagara, Georgia State, and now Wright State has tried to come back into the mix.
Which shows you the type of guy LBJ is.
Call it the "LeBron Effect".
He recognizes greatness and recognizes talent, and understands that a kid of Pattons' magnitude should not be taken lightly.
James once, was on that big stage and understands how that stage can sometimes make or break your career.
Shoutout to the King on showing love to a kid, he had never met, never even known until now.
The kid lives in Dayton, Ohio.
Trotwood to be exact.
Nowhere near Akron, or "The Land."
LeBron just watched the game, heard the story, and here we are.
Will Patton end up at Akron? Or Toledo?
Yet to be seen.
Very possible, unless some of the Big Ten teams start to open their eyes and realize how good this Patton kid is.
Hell, LeBron did.
After 1 game.
Will Ohio State jump in? Who knows.
But a couple things are for sure.
(1) When LeBron speaks, you listen.
(2) And it's never to late to make a great impression.
Just look at Norris Cole. A late D-1 signee, now he resides in the NBA.
Where will the hottest hoop prospect in Ohio end up?
Cincy Teams Fall
Undefeated Moeller falls in Championship Game
Cincy Moeller, undefeated all season, fell in the title game, losing 39-38 to Massillion Jackson.
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| Massillion spoils Moeller perfect season, win D-3 Championship |
Moeller had went undefeated all season, and lost in heartbreaking fashion.
This marks the first time a D-1 team has won a State tile since 1945 without scoring 40 points.
Is it time for a shot clock in High School era?
Something the committee should seriously think about.
Roger Bacon falls in the Championship Game as well, losing to Cleveland Villa St Joseph in the D-3 Title Game 54-52.
OHSAA Key Notes
The Cleveland / Akron schools won all 4 boys divisions.
The first time in 72 years (1945) a D-1 game was won with a final winning score under 40
(Massillion wins 39-38)
Trotwood G Torrey Patton broke scoring record (34) for a Individual perfromance (D-2)
Akron SVSM F & Buffalo commit Jayvon Graves scored the most points in the tournament this year (47).
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