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Cincy

3/19/06

NCH cruises back to state

Division III boys' regional final

BY CAREY HOFFMAN | ENQUIRER CONTRIBUTOR

FAIRBORN - A year ago at the regional tournament, North College Hill let a physically inferior team in New Albany hang around - getting within six points in the fourth quarter - before the Trojans pulled away and, a week later, won the Division III state title.

Saturday, the Trojans faced another undersized team in Versailles. This year, there would be no flirtation with an upset.

The Trojans went on a 28-2 run early in the game and barely slowed the rest of the way, posting a 97-52 victory over Versailles to win the Division III regional championship.

NCH (24-1) advances to a state semifinal Thursday, where the Trojans will meet Archbold at 5:15 p.m. at Value City Arena in Columbus.

"We knew that if we didn't come out and create some offense with our defense, it could be a drag-out kind of game," said NCH's Bill Walker, who led all scorers with 26 points.

"We understood that one player on their team in their last game hit six 3s," added O.J. Mayo. "Our goal was not to even let them get started."

Walker had a blocked shot and two breakout steals that led to dunks at the beginning of NCH's run, and Mayo scored 13 points in the first quarter alone, including a running 30-footer just before the horn to end the quarter.

The most interesting point the rest of the way came when Mayo picked up his third foul on a charge with 6:20 left in the half.

If Versailles thought that might stop the onslaught, Walker quickly set them straight. Moving out on the perimeter into Mayo's two-guard slot, the 6-6 Walker hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions, boosting NCH's lead to 40-9 with 5:17 left before half.

"He plays that spot all the time in practice, and during the summers, he plays guard," said NCH coach Jamie Mahaffey. "He's an excellent passer and he can really handle the ball. It's just that people don't get to see it (during the season)."

Said Walker, known for his thunderous dunks: "Some people think I'm a one-dimensional player. But there are a lot of things I can tap into."

Walker was 2-of-4 from 3-point range and finished with three assists and six steals. Mayo, who played only 19 minutes, scored 25 points, including 3-of-4 on 3-pointers. NCH went 8-of-17 from behind the arc and shot 69 percent overall from the field.

"We were going to give it everything we had," said Versailles coach David Peltz. "I told them not to be tentative and not to shoot contested shots.

But (NCH) shot it extremely well themselves, and they just have so much athleticism."

Nathaniel Glover didn't miss a shot in adding 10 points for the Trojans.

NCH's players say that despite what some people might assume, they are anxious about the chance for a second straight state title.

"For me, this second trip to state was about pride, so it was a little harder.

Everyone expects us to be there," Mayo said.

North College Hill (24-1) - Walker 11 2 26, Leary 4 0 9, Glover 3 2 10, Butler 4 1 9, Mayo 9 4 25, Horne 2 1 5, Parks 1 2 4, Evans 2 1 5, McPherson 2 0 4. Totals: 38-55 13-22 97.
Versailles (20-5) - McNeilan 2 0 4, Richard 3 1 8, Shardo 4 1 9, Barga 4 1 10, White 2 0 4, Liette 5 1 11, Turner 1 0 3, Nisonger 1 0 3. Totals: 22-58 4-11 52.
North College Hill26272816-97Versailles7171216-52
3-point goals: NCH - Walker 2, Leary, Glover 2, Mayo 3; V - Richard, Barga, Turner, Nisonger.