Berlin Hiland Boys BB 2019
#1 Berlin Hilamd (27-1)

3-17-19 – The St. Henry Redskins ranked #3 will take on #1 Berlin Hiland in an OHSAA D IV Boys Basketball State Semifinal game in Columbus on Friday afternoon.

2019 Division IV Boys Basketball Final Four
No. 1 Berlin Hiland (27-1) vs. No. 3 St. Henry (24-3), Friday, 1 p.m.
Richmond Heights (21-6) vs. No. 2 Crestview (26-1), Friday, 3 p.m.
Division IV State Championship: Saturday, 5:15 p.m.

The two teams earned their trips to State in vastly different ways, Berlin Hiland handled Glenwood 75-32 in a game that featured two #1 seeds and it could have been worse, but a running clock was in place in the fourth quarter.

3/15 		Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Glenwood	5	10	13	4	32
Hiland		19	30	14	12	75

Midwest Athletic Conference Champion St. Henry (24-3) had to battle Shelby County League foe Jackson Center (22-6)  for four quarters and  would manage to sneak out with a 46-43 win.

Last season the Hawks were knocked out of the State Semifnal game by Cornerstone Christian  51-41, this year they hope to avoid that happening again.

Hiland Head Coach Mark Schlabach told OhioSportsTicket.com that his four-year starter Andy Miller has been a huge plus for the Hawk’s recent success –

“We have an Andy Miller. Defense and point guard play gets you to where you’re going. We have had Andy and other teams haven’t and I’ve said that a lot of times.”

 

Schlabach says in the same article that Hawk players understanding their roles has been a key factor in the tournament run and the return to the State Finals-

“Kendall (Hochstetler) and Andy (Miller), we rely on them to do a lot, but it is nice when you’ve got guys like Jared Raber with all of the little things he does on the floor and Korrie Hostetler, who had the biggest game of they year tonight with Sam (Habeger) in some foul trouble. We have had different guys step up all year, and again, you don’t get here tonight if you don’t have that.”

The Hawks defense had been very stingy during the tournament run, giving up just 33.6 points a games including giving up just 19 and 22 points in their first two wins.

The Hawks only loss of the season came to D I Cleveland East Tech on December 22nd 55-43.

Berlin Hiland #1 seed at East District

  • Berlin Hiland 75-19
  • Caldwell 57-22
  • Bishop Rosecarns 48-39
  • Strasburg-Franklin 58-48
  • Dawson-Bryant 70-39
  • Glenwood 75-32

 

The Regional Final win put St. Henry in the D-IV state semifinals for the sixth time,  the Redskins have won four State  titles (2004, 1991, 1990 and 1979) and finished as runner-up once (2000).

Zach Niekamp led St. Henry with 15 points in the win over Jackson Center, while Jay Knapke added 11 points and Caden Niekamp had nine. St. Henry was solid at the charity stripe as they made 14-of-18 free-throw attempts, including 5-of-7 in the final minute during the Tigers comeback. St. Henry out rebounded the Tigers 35-20.

St. Henry Head Coach Eric Rosenbeck talked to Press Pros Magazine after the game about the importance of Jay Knapke –

“I’ve said this 10 times if I’ve said it 100 times – Jay Knapke is the epitome of St. Henry basketball.He’s making huge plays in the regional final. He just never stops. He’s relentless. That relentless paid off, especially in the fourth quarter.”

In the same article Rosenbeck talked about what the Redskins’ goal has been all season –

“Our goal has never been to get to state. Our goal has always been to win state.”

St. Henry #1 Seed at Wapakoneta District

  • Ada 64-47
  • Minster 48-41
  • Marion Local 52-40
  • Springfield Catholic Central 54-36
  • Jackson Center 46-43

 

St. Henry Ticket Information –

St. Henry season ticket holders can purchase tickets on Tuesday at 6pm, 7pm for everyone else.

If St. Henry wins on Friday fans will be able to buy tickets right after the game at the arena. $15 per ticket, cash only.  Tickets will also be be sold on Saturday at 9am in the High School office for fans who can only attend on Saturday.