The Lucas Cubs will play for a Regional Championship after getting through McDonald 47-45 into the Division IV Canton final.

 

Much of the talk heading into the contest was Blue Devils scoring machine Zach Rasile who was averaging 40 ppg this season as the state's all-time leader in made 3-pointers becoming just the second player in Ohio history to surpass 3,000 career points. Cubs senior guard Carson Hauger accepted the challenge to guard the sharp-shooter, holding Rasile to half his season average with 21 points.

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McDonald chose to double team Logan Niswander and Riley Gossom throughout the night, leading to a key 13 point scoring performance by Ethan Wallace with 10 of those coming in the third. 

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Lucas would take a 16-12 advantage through one-quarter of action before being limited to just a pair of second quarter field goals as the Blue Devils closed the gap to 25-24 by the break. With Wallace leading the charge, the Cubs then outscored McDonald 15-8 in the third for a 40-32 edge to begin the final quarter.

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A Blue Devils run would gain them a brief lead twice in the fourth but Lucas responded both times with baskets to reclaim the upper hand. Rasile got off a 3-pointer at the horn that could have won it, but couldn't draw a whistle despite some heavy contact as his shot fell short to secure a Cubs victory.

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Niswander joined Wallace with 13 points, while Gossom and Ethan Sauder each scored eight and Hauger added three. Jake Portolese joined Rasile in double-figures for McDonald with 17 pts as they wrap-up their season at 22-4.

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Lucas improves to 26-1 and will take on defending Regional champs Richmond Heights (22-4) at Canton Memorial Fieldhouse, Friday at 7 pm.

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