Lutheran West and Richmond Heights are one win away from a state title after their semifinal victories on Friday.
The Longhorns, making their first appearance in the Final Four since 1998, edged Dayton Chaminade Julienne in a Division II state semifinal, 56-54.
Josh Meyer’s dunk with three seconds remaining gave the Longhorns the lead for good, but the Eagles had one last chance to win it when Michigan-bound George Washington launched a 3-pointer that rattled off the rim as time expired.
Matthew Meyer scored 10 of his 16 points in the second half to spark the Longhorns, who trailed at the break, 28-25.
Meyer’s second-half surge kept Chaminade Julienne from pulling away from Lutheran West.
Jayson Levis led all scorers with 20 points while Derek Fairley dropped in eight and Dylan Barchak and Josh Meyer pitched in with six points each.
The Longhorns shot 58 percent from the floor in the second half.
Lutheran West now will play for its first state championship in school history on Sunday at 10:45 a.m. against Akron Buchtel.
Richmond Heights will play for a second straight Division IV state title after pulling away from Russia in the fourth quarter of a 66-51 win.
Russia led after the first quarter, 13-8, and was within 27-25 at the break.
The Raiders hung with the Spartans into the fourth quarter, but Richmond Heights put together a 7-0 and 6-0 runs in the final eight minutes to punch their ticket to Sunday’s championship game.
Dorian Jones led the Spartans with 17 points, Hosea Steele contributed with 16, De’Erick Barber scored 14, and Demarris Winters also scored in double figures with 10. Jeremy Wilson pitched in with four points, Braylen Salters scored three, and Tyson Garner finished with two.
The Spartans will play Convoy Crestview in the Division IV state championship game on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Part one of the postgame for @Spartan_Hoop after their state semifinal win over Russia #NHBasketball pic.twitter.com/pZUMU9kSIn
— Ben Hercik (@BHercikNH) March 18, 2023
