COLUMBUS — For the second time in its boys basketball history, Wauseon will play for a state championship.
Combining a tempo-controlling defense with a patient offense, the eighth-ranked Indians (27-1) made enough stops and enough shots to take a 42-35 victory Thursday over unranked Columbus Eastmoor Academy in a Division II state semifinal at Ohio State University's Schottenstein Center.
It was the 26th consecutive win for Wauseon, which was led by 14 points from junior forward Brooks Gype and 13 points and seven rebounds from senior guard Carter Bzovi.
Also key for the Indians was the inside play of 6-foot-9 junior center Austin Rotroff, who scored six points on three impressive dunks, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked seven shots.
PHOTO GALLERY: Wauseon vs. Eastmoor Academy
Another important contribution for the Indians came from junior forward Owen Newlove, who scored all eight of his points in the second half, including crucial inside buckets when Eastmoor (22-7) threatened Wauseon's lead.
Wauseon wil face the winner of Thursday's second D-II semifinal between second-ranked Trotwood-Madison (26-2) and No. 11 Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (23-5).
The Indians previously reached the 1994 D-II state final when current coach Chad Burt was a fourth-year senior starting forward, losing 73-59 in the title game that year to Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph.
Controlling the game's tempo in its second trip to the final four, Wauseon led 10-6 after one quarter, and 13-10 at halftime, playing solid defense and deliberate offense.
The Warriors pushed to speed up the game's pace in the third quarter, and used a 15-11 period to take a 25-24 edge to the final quarter.
But the resilient Indians refused to let Eastmoor capture the game's momentum, and regained the lead for good after Newlove converted consecutive put-back baskets for a 28-25 Wauseon lead 1:24 into the fourth quarter.
Eastmoor got within 35-33 on a put-back bucket from Taevion Kinsey (15 points) with 1:50 remaining, but the Indians got a pivotal play from Gype 29 seconds later.
Rotroff missed the front end of a bonus chance at the foul line, but Gype secured the long rebound and scored from the lane for a four-point lead.
Wauseon then iced the win from line, with Bzovi hitting two foul shots, senior guard Brendan Britsch hitting one, and Gype adding two more in the final 32.6 seconds.
The Indians were 14 of 33 (42 percent) from the field, 13 of 19 at the line, outrebounded Eastmoor 30-26, and committed 13 turnovers while forcing eight.
The Warriors were 15 of 47 (32 percent) from the field, including 1 of 10 on 3-pointers, and were 4 of 7 at the line.
Stanley Williams added eight points for Eastmoor, which also lost in the 2015 state semifinals.
First Published March 23, 2017, 3:36 p.m.
