(3-24-18) All season long folks had been overlooking the Marion Local Flyers. Today, with a never quit attitude, they did what many thought would not be possible,they won the OHSAA D IV Boys Basketball State Championship in a classic double-overtime win over Cornerstone Christian 52-51. BOX SCORE

The Flyers add the boys basketball state championship trophy will join their earlier D VI football title that they won in the fall, a major accomplishment, only the fourth time ever in OHSAA history.

It was a game that was not decided until the final buzzer in the second OT, right after the Flyers’ Tyler Mescher hit both free throws after being fouled underneath his own basketball with just 2.6 seconds remaining.

The Flyers Nathan Bruns had some kind of game, hitting key threes in each OT at very critical times.

Bruns and Mescher aqain showed why they were such a dynamic duo all season long, especially in the overtimes with ‘willing’ their team to the win.

Bruns had a double-double with 18 points (7 of 18), 2 key 3-point FGs, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block.

Mescher was a rebound away from a double-double with 18 points, 2-2 FTs that put the Flyers ahead to stay in the second overtime and 9 rebounds.

Tyler Prenger had points, including 3 treys and 5 rebounds.

D IV Player of the Year Michael Bothwell (Furman commit)led the Patriots with 23 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots.

Flyers dominated on the boards with a 37-24 advantage, Marion Local had 14 turnovers, compared to 9 for Cornerstone.

 

Oh yeah, the Midwest Athletic Conference won another State title, it was the Flyers third in school history.

The welcome home for the Marion Local Flyers is at 6:30pm (Saturday) tonight in the High School Gym.

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