COLUMBUS, Ohio -- South High School head coach Ramon Spears was in fourth grade the last time the Bulldogs captured a Columbus City League championship. Taking its program-best 20-1 record to the big stage in front of a packed house at Africentric, South made history on Saturday, delivering a knockout blow to Northland in a 65-51 program-changing victory. 

In a game that seemed to favor Northland due to its overwhelming size and athleticism, South would not be deterred. Playing with incredible intensity and passion, South mirrored the toughness of its rugged head coach and 1988 Bulldog alum, crawling out of an early 8-5 deficit late in the first quarter.

Responding with a 14-3 run over the next six and a half minutes, South opened up its largest lead of the first half, as a Treohn Watkins three put the Bulldogs up 19-11 with 4:20 to go. Responding as champions do, Northland would not back down. Putting together a 13-2 run to end the half, the Vikings reacted strongly to star junior wing Jejuan Weatherspoon going out with an ankle injury.

Leading 24-21 at half, Northland looked to be in control of Saturday's game, as all momentum shifted to the Vikings.

However, when you punch a South High Bulldog, it won't lay down and die. 

After an open floor slam from Northland sophomore William Mfum put the Vikings up 26-24 with 6:42 to go in the third, South would respond with a run that changed Saturday's championship contest.

Putting together a 13-2 run of its own over the next four minutes, South consistently beat the Northland press down the floor, opening up a 37-28 advantage with2:22 to go in the third. Northland would manage to crawl back behind senior big man Quentin Jones, going into the fourth quarter trailing 40-34 after a late score from South freshman Marcus Johnson, who would just be getting started.

Johnson sparked a key fourth quarter run for the Bulldogs, as the 6-foot-4 wing used his length and athleticism to give South an above-the-rim presence that it did not have before. 

Opening up the fourth quarter with yet another run, South would go up double digits for the first time in the second half, as a three from Watkins put the Bulldogs ahead 48-38 with 4:36 to go. Putting Northland at its largest deficit in any City League game in the last 11 years, South would not allow the Vikings to get any closer than nine points for the remainder of the game.

Key scores from Johnson inside helped South maintain a sizable lead. Johnson would even execute at the line, hitting two key free throws to put South ahead 61-48 with 1:11 to go. Keeping Northland at bay for the final minute and change, South did something that only two South division teams have done in the last 17 years by winning the City League.

Handing Northland its first City League Championship loss since 1990, South also wrapped up its first league title since 10 years prior to that. Ending a 37-year City League title drought, South completed the improbable, going from 1-20 in 2010-11 to 21-1 and a City League title in 2016-17. 

Leading the way for South on Saturday was Watkins, who finished with 15 points. Knocking down four threes, Watkins' triples came at opportune times for South, with no bigger triple than the one to put the Bulldogs up 10 midway through the fourth quarter. 

Johnson would add 14 points off the bench, as the super freshman played big-time minutes in the second half, scoring 12 points after halftime and finishing strong at the rim. Johnson was also excellent on defense, locking down Northland's lengthy wings in the fourth quarter.

Outside of Watkins and Johnson, who are both underclassmen, senior Bruelle Thompson added nine points. While Thompson would not have a field goal after halftime, his first quarter scoring helped South get into a rhythm, which was key in Saturday's victory. First team All-City selection and senior forward Dez Robinson played a solid all-around contest, finishing with nine points, six rebounds and four assists. Robinson finished strongly near the basket and played excellent perimeter defense on Weatherspoon, holding him scoreless before his injury.

Reserve senior forward Max Jackson played big minutes off the bench, finishing with seven points and 10 rebounds. Jackson's rebounding presence and tough interior defense were major keys to the Bulldogs' win. 

For Northland, Jones kept the Vikings within striking distance all game long, having his best performance of the season with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Jones was at times unstoppable on Saturday, scoring inside, outside and in transition, while giving the Vikings a rebounding presence inside. 

With only eight points coming from its starting lineup outside of Jones, Northland would get big production from its bench. Sophomore guard N'Keeley Elmore added 14 points and three assists off the bench, filling in for senior guard Brandon Waugh, who missed nearly the entire fourth quarter with four fouls.

Senior reserve wing and energy guy Rico Robinson added five points for Northland, who loses its first City League game by double-digits in more than a decade. Northland will look to bounce back in the Division I district tournament, where the fifth-seeded Vikings will look to win its first district title since 2015. 

With the win, South wraps up its first City League title in 37 years, and more importantly, great momentum heading into a Division II district tournament in which the Bulldogs are the top overall seed. At 21-1, South is having its best season in more than 50 years and are City League champions.