COLUMBUS (AP) — Jerry Higgins scored 16 points and Alonzo Gaffney had 12 points and 10 rebounds as Villa Angela St. Joseph defeated Roger Bacon 54-52 to win the Ohio high school Division III boys basketball state championship.

Leading by two with 1:07 to go, Higgins got behind the defense on an inbounds pass Saturday and scored a layup to make it a two possession-game.

The Vikings made seven free throws in the final minute and led by as much as 10 before Bacon hit three 3-pointers in the final 31 seconds.

The Vikings earned their seventh state championship and third in five years.

Alec Pfriem had a double-double for the runner-up with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Justin Johnson and James Johnson added 14 and 13 points.

 

Division II

Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s 45

Wauseon 30

COLUMBUS (AP) — Jayvon Graves scored 25 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary to a 45-30 victory over Wauseon in the Division II final on Saturday.

The Irish won its seventh boys state championship and its first since 2011.

St. Vincent-St. Mary swarmed Wauseon with tough defense and double-teams and forced 23 turnovers.

The Irish struggled to knock down shots early and missed its first seven, but finished shooting 40 percent from the field.

Graves, the Associated Press Division II co-player of the year, had 47 total points in his final two games.

Austin Rotroff led Wauseon with 18 points and nine rebounds while Carter Bzovi chipped in eight points.

 

Division IV

Lutheran East 43

Wellington 38

COLUMBUS (AP) — Jordan Burge scored 13 points for Cleveland Heights Lutheran East in its 43-38 victory over Columbus Wellington in the Division IV final on Saturday.

Burge also had four steals and four rebounds for the Falcons who won their second state title, the first since 2005.

Lutheran East trailed by 11 early before clawing its way back and taking an 18-17 lead on the in the first half. The Falcons closed out the third quarter on a 6-0 run for a 29-24 lead and never trailed again.

Wellington was led by senior forward Dustin Harder with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Solomon Pierre-Louis and Noah Berry each had seven points.