ATHENS – In a season that began with adversity, the Northside Christian boys basketball team still enjoyed success.

For the second consecutive year, however, the Lions (20-6) saw their season end with a loss to Berlin Hiland, falling 52-32 on Tuesday in a Division IV regional semifinal at Ohio University’s Convocation Center.

“We had two main goals to start the season,” Lions coach Tim Kusan said. “They were to win the league, the MOCAL, which we did (at 11-1), and then to win the district, which we did. Today was a bonus. We knew Hiland was a great team, and today they were just better than us. I love the effort that our kids gave. They never quit.”

Last season, Northside Christian lost to Hiland 52-50 in a regional final at OU.

In late October, Kusan replaced Kevin Weakley, who was named coach in April in place of Ryan Vanderwarker but later resigned. Vanderwarker’s son, Landon, played a major role in the Lions’ district championship last season, but transferred to Division I Delaware Hayes.

“We had a ton of adversity,” senior Carter Jury said. “We didn’t know who our coach was for a long time at the beginning of the season, but credit to (Kusan). He came in and he helped us out a lot. He worked us hard. He set really high standards for us, and I believe we met those.”

Hiland (21-6) scored five unanswered points in the final seconds of the first quarter to take a 16-13 lead. The Hawks never trailed again, pushing their advantage to 27-17 at halftime and 41-26 heading into the fourth quarter.

Junior Davontrel Jackson led Northside Christian with 10 points. Jury had eight points and 10 rebounds, and junior Josh Cook added eight points.

Jackson and Cook are three-year starters.

“I’m super pleased,” Jury said. “Our team met all the goals we set at the beginning of the year. It’s been a great season overall. A lot of us have gotten a lot better.”

Nick Wigton led Hiland with 19 points.

“Hiland’s intensity and team defense was the best we’ve played this season,” Kusan said. “They were able to do things that we weren’t able to stop. I tried literally everything I could on offense. We ran through all our offensive sets, and they had us so well scouted.”

–Frank DiRenna

Russia 71, Fisher Catholic 20

KETTERING – First-year Fisher Catholic coach A.J. James knew his team faced long odds against Russia, a 2023 state semifinalist that entered Tuesday's Division IV regional semifinal with a 25-1 record.

A game after winning the second district title in program history and first since 2002, the Irish (16-10) saw their season end at Kettering Fairmont's Trent Arena.

“When we went to that bracket, it gave us the best opportunity to win a district, and Fisher Catholic has only done it one other time, so that was our goal,” James said. “We got through it and we knew what was waiting for us. (Russia) was bigger, stronger and faster than us at every single spot.

“We tried to stress shot faking, but even when we did that, they were right there. They put so much pressure on you, and we tried to get guys to come to the ball to help the ball handler relieve some of that pressure, but, man, they are such a good team – the best team we have seen, for sure.”

Fisher Catholic trailed 17-1 after one quarter and 47-8 at halftime. Russia turned 16 first-half turnovers by the Irish into 22 points, and 12 offensive rebounds led to 18 second-chance points.

The Irish shot 3 of 19 from the field in the first half and 8 of 38 for the game. Russia connected on 28 of 61 shots and outrebounded Fisher Catholic 48-21.

Senior Peyton Owens led the Irish with eight points, three rebounds and three assists.

–Tom Wilson, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Northside Christian, Fisher Catholic fall in boys basketball regional