BACK TO DAYTON: Westerville North defeats New Albany

Written by 270 Hoops staff writer Greg Glasser

COLUMBUS, OH - To date back to last year’s state championship run, Westerville North had yet to play a postseason game where the outcome was undecided throughout the fourth quarter.

Perhaps blowout win after blowout win would suggest the 25-1 Warriors would be in unfamiliar territory when faced with late-game adversity.

But despite an admirable effort from New Albany, Westerville North was able to hold off an Eagles comeback attempt as the Warriors won 58-50 to earn a second straight Division II regional championship and keep their dreams alive to repeat as a state champs.

“We knew how good [New Albany] was coming in, our kids knew too because our communities butt up against each other, so we knew this was going to be a battle,” Westerville North head coach Shan Trusley said after the game. “I have great respect for [New Albany head coach] Tim Casey, he’s like a mentor to me. Marco [Mattucci] is as good as it gets in Central Ohio, Evan Murfield is good and Kelby Martin has really been coming on. They challenged our kids and I think you saw in the second half how tough our kids were, especially in the fourth quarter.”