Boys Basketball: Harvest Prep holds off Ottawa-Glandorf to reach Division III title game
Friday, March 22, 2024
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Harvest Prep’s Khalil Daniels shoots over Ottawa-Glandorf’s Grant Schroeder during the Warriors’ state semifinal win at University of Dayton Arena Mar. 22. Photo: Kevin Rouch
It was a helpless feeling for Khalil Daniels as he sat on the bench watching Colin White put up a last-second, game-winning 3-point attempt on March 22. But for Harvest Prep boys basketball coach David Dennis, Sr., it was déjà vu.
White put up a 3-point attempt from the right corner despite heavy pressure by Ephraim Campbell and it fell well short.
The Warriors hung on for a 61-59 victory over Ottawa-Glandorf in a Division III state semifinal on March 22 at the University of Dayton Arena.
“My heart dropped,” said Daniels, a junior wing, who had 10 points and four rebounds, but fouled out with 4 minutes, 25 seconds remaining. “I fouled out early in the fourth and seeing my brothers fight so hard – I was in there crying. I was so emotional – seeing that shot made my heart drop. He missed it and we won and that’s all that matters.”
Prep plays Camden Preble Shawnee or Cleveland Heights Lutheran Heights for a state title in Dayton on March 24 at 2 p.m. It’ll be the fourth appearance in the state title game for the Warriors and first since 2019 when they won their only title.
Harvest Prep’s Adonus Abrams finishes the fast break during the Warriors’ state semifinal game with Ottawa-Glandorf Mar. 22 at University of Dayton Arena. Photo: Kevin Rouch
White, an Ohio State signee and Ohio’s Mr. Basketball, went 32 points, 13 rebounds, five blocks and four steals for the Titans (24-4). The first four were game highs. He caught an opposite-side pass from Grant Schroeder in the right corner but didn’t get a good look at the basket after a strong close-out by Campbell.
The Titans defeated Prep 63-61 on a White last-second shot on Feb. 5, 2022. Dennis remembered the game-winning play well.
“They ran the same exact play,” Dennis said. “We looked at that play about five times. They set it up and did the same play. So, I give credit to my coaches and the film study to be able to dissect that play and make it a little tough on them. (Campbell has) size and long arms. It was on purpose so he could get a hand on it.”
Ottawa-Glandorf coach Tyson McGlaughlin also knew that he used the play to beat Prep before.
“With 2 seconds left, our options were kind of limited as far as ways we could get Colin the ball,” he said. “They did a good job of defending it and pushed us out a little farther than we wanted. Our hopes were to get Colin isolated on the backside of the floor and just make a play.
“I wanted a shot and I wanted the ball in Colin’s hands. That’s not easy to do (because) I don’t think there were many people in the stands that didn’t think No. 22 was getting the ball. But I’m still going to go down swinging. I’ll go that route every day.”
Dennis doesn’t blame him for going to the well again.
Harvest Prep’s Ephraim Campbell (35) attempts an acrobatic shot during the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ state semifinal victory at University of Dayton Arena Mar. 22. Photo: Kevin Rouch
“Colin is really good and if I’m coaching him, I’d want the ball in his hands also,” he said.
The Warriors (24-4) held a 13-point lead with just over a minute left in the third quarter and had to withstand a furious fourth-quarter rally by the Titans, who pulled within 2 points four times before getting it to one with 17 seconds remaining.
Both teams went on an 8-0 run in the first quarter. But Prep’s run came amid a 14-2 run and never trailed again.
Adonus Abrams went for 26 points and six steals and added three assists to lead Prep.
The Warriors were just 5 of 13 at the free throw line and had four of the team’s nine turnovers in the fourth quarter.
It was their high-pressure defense that gave them control. Prep had 14 points off eight Ottawa-Glandorf turnovers in the first half and led 31-21 at the break. The Warriors finished with 20 points off 15 turnovers.
Brandon Roddy had seven points and four assists and Campbell added six points, five rebounds and three blocked shots for Prep.
Caden Erford had 12 points, 10 rebounds and three assists for Ottawa-Glandorf, which out-rebounded Prep 39-25.
Harvest Prep head coach David Dennis, Sr. interviewed after the Warriors’ state semifinal win over Ottawa-Glandorf at University of Dayton Arena Mar. 22. Photo: Kevin Rouch
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