ATHENS, Ohio -- A wire-to-wire lead for the Africentric Nubians gave way to a victory over a game Proctorville Fairland team. Aiden Porter did everything he could but Dailyn Swain notched a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, but it was the defense of Africentric that led the Columbus City League champions to a 51-43 win over the Dragons in the Division III regional semifinals at Ohio University.

Africentric jumped out to a 7-0 lead early, spurred by two of their leaders as senior Dan Wagner opened up the game with a straight away three and junior Dailyn Swain nailed a midrange jumper and lay-up coming off of a block from senior Josiah Smith. Fairfield junior JD Thacker got the ball in the basket first to get his team rolling. From there, Proctorville senior scoring leader Aiden Porter made two free throws and a lay-up to cut the lead to a single point midway through the first quarter.

A three-pointer from Preston Steele ruined the momentum that the Dragons built, Porter answered back with a bucket to end the opening quarter with his team trailing 10-8. 

The second quarter is where the length and athleticism of the Nubians came into play and affected Fairland as the combo of Swain and Josiah Smith caused problems in the paint. Smith swatted away two shots in the quarter, both of which could have been big shifts in the game if the Dragons were to convert. 

Daily Swain started the second frame off with an absolute poster which was followed up with, the theme of the game, Aiden Porter scoring to get his team back in the mix. Back-to-back baskets from Preston Steele and Josiah Smith had the Nubians ready to race away, but Thacker’s bucket with two minutes made it a 16-12 Africentric lead as the Dragons called a timeout. The timeout proved detrimental for Fairland as the Nubians went on a 6-0 run after the timeout, including a bomb from Dan Wagner to send Africentric into the half up 22-12. 

In the second half, it seemed like every time Fairland got close, Africentric was there to remind them that they still had some more catching up to do. The Nubians changed the question whenever the Dragons thought they had the answer. 

Preston Steele added himself to the block party group chat as the second half started, swatting away a shot before Dragon sophomore WIll Davis scored to start the third. Fairland came out fairly motivated and went on a 7-0 run, just like Africentric did to start the game, and got the lead to 22-19 early in the third.

Just when it looked like they could get back into the game, junior Dailyn Swain scored and senior Dan Wagner hit his third three of the game to push the lead back up to 27-19. Aiden Porter scored four straight points, two free throws and another back door lay-up got his team back to a four-point deficit. Porter scored seven of his game-high 23 points in the quarter, his final three got his Dragons to within three points which was the closest they got in the second half.

Josiah Smith started the action in the fourth and final frame, increasing the lead to 35-26. The two teams traded scores as time was ticking in the early minutes of the quarter, with Porter doing his best to keep his team within striking distance. After consecutive Preston Steele scores (including a big dunk) put the Nubians ahead 45-35, the writing began to be on the Ohio University walls and the fans could smell a birth to the elite eight like the pizza at the concession stands.

Fairland freshman Brody Buchanan ripped a three after some missed free throws by Africentric, but it wasn’t enough to overcome what was already happening. Dailyn Swain drained the second of two free throws, then got a steal and lay-up for seal the game and Africentric advanced to the regional finals on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. back at Ohio University. 

Aiden Porter was sensational for the Dragons, leading all scorers with 23 points. For the City League champion Nubians, Dailyn Swain’s 16 points, 10 boards, four assists and four blocks led the way for them.

Senior Dan Wagner did not miss from three and also had a couple assists and a rebound. Preston Steele had a big time game as he scored 13 points, grabbed three rebounds and changed plenty of shots at the rim while Josiah Smith had seven points, 3 rebounds and his two blocks. LaRon Fuller added a basket, two assists and three rebounds and Mekhi Johnson scored four and grabbed some big rebounds for the Nubians.