Central Ohio High School Stories

Olentangy Orange shoots past Reynoldsburg in title game
Saturday, March 22, 2025
By Kevin Rouch

It was a much-awaited game. Because the OHSAA added three divisions to the four that had existed the year before, there was now a chance in Division I that there would be two teams from Central Ohio that could compete for a state championship in the 102-year history of tournament play in the Buckeye State. [More]

Columbus Academy battles but comes up short against Lutheran East
Saturday, March 22, 2025
By Kevin Rouch

The Columbus Academy Vikings (28-1) came into Saturday’s OHSAA state title game in Dayton knowing that they had a tough task against two-time defending state champion Lutheran East (26-4). The Falcons have been in the final four the last seven times that the state tournament has been held, winning the crown four times. [More]

Westerville North takes Perry to “deep water”, wins state title
Friday, March 21, 2025
By Kevin Rouch

Westerville North (24-2) started their state championship game with a 10-0 run against the Cinderella Massillon Perry Panthers (14-13) Friday at University of Dayton Arena. It never got better than that for the Panthers who committed eight turnovers in the first quarter against relentless full-court pressure from the Warriors. North came away with a 78-46 victory. [More]

Four local teams will vie for state basketball titles
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Staff Reports

All four CBUS-area teams that qualified for this season’s boys basketball final four – Olentangy Orange, Reynoldsburg, Westerville North, and Columbus Academy – won their state semi-final games this weekend and will play for OHSAA titles next Friday and Saturday. [More]

Pickerington Central rallies for eighth state title
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Staff Reports

The Pickerington Central girls basketball team led Cincinnati Princeton 23-17 at the end of the first half of their OHSAA Division I state final at University of Dayton Arena Saturday despite the fact that five Tigers had two fouls before the break. [More]

Commentary: The busiest two weeks of the high school sports year
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
By Kevin Rouch

This past weekend, winter-season high school athletes, and the media following them, completed the most harried two weeks of the year. Finals were held in gymnastics, hockey, wrestling, and bowling, as well as advanced tournament games in girls and boys basketball. [More]

Upper Arlington captures first state hockey title
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Staff Reports

The Upper Arlington Golden Bears became the second CBUS-area team to win the OHSAA state hockey championship with a 5-2 win over St. Ignatius Sunday at Nationwide Arena. It was only two years ago that Olentangy Liberty was the first Central Ohio squad to take the crown, beating University School 6-2. [More]

Olentangy Orange, Watterson take down state wrestling crowns
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Staff Reports

The OHSAA hosted its championship round for both girls and boys Sunday evening at Value City Arena on the Ohio State University campus. Olentangy Orange won its second consecutive girls state title. Bishop Watterson won its first Division II state boys championship, while DeSales finished second in boys Division I. [More]

Pickerington Central will play Cincinnati Princeton in title game
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Staff Reports

The Pickerington Central Tigers are going to the OHSAA state title game next weekend after downing Rocky River Magnificat 49-41 in overtime at Mansfield Senior High School Sunday. The Tigers trailed 23-15 at the half, but rebounded with an intense defensive effort to force an extra period and grab the win. [More]

Four local basketball teams headed to state tourney
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Staff Reports

This year’s OHSAA boys basketball regional finals were all completed by Sunday evening. Going to the final four at the University of Dayton over the next two weeks are: Olentangy Orange (DI), Reynoldsburg (DI), Westerville North (DII), and Columbus Academy (DV). [More]

Boys district champions are crowned, headed to regionals
Sunday, March 2, 2025
Staff Reports

After Sunday’s boys basketball action, all of the district champions have been determined for this year’s OHSAA tournament and the regional semi-finals have been scheduled for the upcoming week. Here are the 20 Central Ohio champions in all seven divisions and where they’re headed. [More]

Three CBUS-area teams move on to state final four
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Staff Reports

All of the OHSAA regional girls basketball games have been played this season and the teams going to the final four have been determined. Three squads will represent Central Ohio at the final stage of the tournament. [More]