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Division IV Sectional Final Recap

By Zach Fleer and Jake Spegal, 02/25/20, 9:00PM EST

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A look at the Division IV sectional final action in the area

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Division IV sectional final action tipped off on Tuesday in Central Ohio. Let's take a look at the eight games in the area. 

#1 Grandview Heights (19-5) 59, #17 Fairfield Christian (3-20) 19

In a game that was never in doubt, Grandview jumped out to a 10-0 lead in about two minutes and rolled over Fairfield Christian 59-19.

Brian Collier got the scoring started early on for the Bobcats and never slowed down, finishing with 23 first half points and 25 total as he sat out the final quarter of play.

If you're a Division II coach in need of a gritty guard who can score from all three levels with extreme efficiency, Collier is your guy, as he has been elite all season long for Grandview and was checked out by Ohio Dominican tonight. 

Outside of Collier's 25, Luke Lachey scored 11 for Grandview and Jayden Akers led Fairfield Christian with seven points.

If Grandview continues to play the way they have been all season, the Bobcats have a very good shot of making it all the way to the final four, as they have one of the best senior duos in the area and have a mismatch for just about every Division IV team in Lachey.

Grandview Heights advances to the district semifinals to take on No. 7 Shekinah Christian (16-7) on Friday at 7 p.m.

#2 Wellington (15-9) 72, #18 Northside Christian (3-14) 25

Wellington advances to the district semifinals to take on No. 12 Ridgedale (8-14) on Friday at 7 p.m.

#3 Berne Union (14-9) 56, #13 Granville Christian (11-11) 45

Berne Union advances to the district semifinals to take on No. 9 Delaware Christian (15-8)/No. 10 Cardington (10-13) on Friday at 7 p.m.

#5 Newark Catholic (13-11) 55, #4 East Knox (15-8) 46

On paper the sectional final between Newark Catholic and East Knox looked like it would be a barn burner and for three quarters it lived up to expectations. However, the Green Wave of Newark Catholic used an 18-11 advantage in the final eight minutes to end the best season an East Knox team has had since 1989 in a 56-46 final. 

the East Knox Bulldogs, led by junior forward Weston Melick who averages 14 points and 6 rebounds a game, jumped to a 19-14 first-quarter lead when Melick hit a long 3-point shot at the buzzer to cap a 5-0 run. 

The Bulldogs jumped to a 7-2 lead after senior guard Nathan Whitney hit a three point shot, however, the Green Wave hung tough behind the play of junior forward Matt Gialdini, who scored seven points in the quarter and senior center Matt Carlisle who added four points to tie the game 14-14 before the Bulldogs final minute run. 

In period two, The Green Wave came back behind the play of 6-foot-3 sophomore wingman Cole Canter, who's consecutive layups knotted the game at 20 all. After a 6-foot jumper by Melick and a nice spin move by Gialdini tied the score at 22, but the Bulldogs got another buzzer trey from Whitney to go into the locker room with a 25-22 lead. 

Gialdini scored nine points to lead the Green Wave in the first half, while Melick led the Bulldogs with eight points and Whitney contributed six. 

The Green Wave got a lay up and free throw from Carlisle to knot the game at 25 all to start the second half. 

The rest of the third quarter was nip and tuck with the score finding itself tied 35 all going into the final minute of the quarter.  Sophomore wing Brandon Buchanan, who was held scoreless in the first half, erupted for seven points during that stretch. After Newark Catholic fell behind 35-29, consecutive 3-point shots by Buchanan and Canter tied the score, but this time the Green Wave got the buzzer score when Canter broke free for a layup in the open court. 

At that point the Green Wave began to overtake the Bulldogs like a tsunami of green slime that oozed into every open crack in the Bulldogs 3-2 zone and man defenses, led by Canter who scored and distributed the ball in a very efficient and smooth manner. 

Melick began the final quarter with an opening trey to give the Bulldogs their final lead of the game 38-37. A three-point bomb by Gialdini, followed by a sweet 10-foot shot by Canter gave Newark Catholic a 42-38 lead. A beautiful lefty hook in the lane by Canter upped the Green Wave lead to 46-39. 

The powerfully built Melick tried to assert himself the entire quarter. A technical at the 3:16 mark on Melick demonstrated his frustration and a slip that led to a traveling violation at the 2:49 mark made matters even worse. 

At that point, Buchanan hit another trey for his tenth point of the game, giving Newark Catholic a dominant 49-39 lead. 

The Bulldogs got an outstanding effort from sophomore guard Shane Knepp, who scored nine points for the game and and made a three-point play and a three point shot to cut the lead to 51-45 with one minute to play. 

The rally fell short however, as the Green Wave hit 4 out of 6 free throws to wrap up the game with a decisive 55-46 final. 

Melick led all scorers with 16 points, while the Green Wave used its balanced attack led by Canter who scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while sidekicks Gialdini and Buchanan contributed 12 points each.

Newark Catholic advances to the district semifinals to take on No. 6 Fisher Catholic (13-11) on Friday at 7 p.m.

#6 Fisher Catholic (12-11) 47, #8 Patriot Academy (14-8) 43

Fisher Catholic advances to the district semifinals to take on No. 5 Newark Catholic (13-11) on Friday at 7 p.m.

#7 Shekinah Christian (16-7) 51, #14 Tree of Life (8-15) 28

Shekinah Christian advances to the district semifinals to take on No. 1 Grandview Heights (19-5) on Friday at 7 p.m.

#10 Cardington (10-13) 57,#9 Delaware Christian (14-9) 45

Cardington advances to the district semifinals to take on No. 3 Berne Union (14-9) on Friday at 7 p.m.

#12 Ridgedale (8-14) 55, #15 Grove City Christian (6-17) 50

Ridgedale advances to the district semifinals to take on No. 2 Wellington (15-9) on Friday at 7 p.m.

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