The tri-champions of the Greater Catholic League-South advanced to the Ohio Division I regional semifinals Wednesday night at Princeton. At triple zeroes on the scoreboard in the second contest, only one remained.

Centerville eliminated Elder in the night game 52-43, while Moeller needed an extra period to fend off St. Xavier 72-69. The Crusaders thus become the last men standing in arguably the toughest league around. 

Moeller moves on

In the third and deciding match of the season between Moeller and St. Xavier, they were student sections and a game worth the billing as the two schools battled to overtime. 

St. Xavier's regular-season win over Moeller was its first against the Crusaders since 2006. It also came on Moeller's Senior Night which rubbed the Crusaders the wrong way.

Despite several frenzied comebacks by St. Xavier, Moeller junior Evan Mahaffey sealed the game in overtime with a steal and a pair of free throws as Moeller won 72-69 with one side of the crowd allowed in approving and the other thanking their seniors. 

"For the first time it felt like a normal situation where there's a lot of noise," Moeller coach Carl Kremer said. "It was hard to get our calls out. I thought it was one of the better high school games I've been a part of in my 30-some years. They kept making big shots and we kept getting them at the rim."

The Crusaders got 21 points from Furman signee Alex Williams and a 19-point, 14-rebound performance from Indiana signee Logan Duncomb who admitted there was a revenge factor in this one.

"They just beat us on our Senior Night, so there was a lot of tension there," Duncomb said. "I know we prepared really hard for this game and I assume they did the same. It was a hard-fought battle the entire time."

Added Kremer, "He takes a pounding every game. I thought tonight was like real basketball and I thought he really thrived in it."

St. Xavier ends its season at 19-3 with two losses to Moeller and one to Elder, both teams that spent time as the state's No. 1. The Bombers shared the GCL-South title for their first league honor since 2005. They also won their first district title since 2010.

Joe Kirby continues his long-range bombing with seven from the arc for the second consecutive game and 26 points. Senior Kobe Rodgers had 19 points in his final game before fouling out and receiving a hug from Moeller's Alex Williams. 

"We're not quitting, not around here," St. Xavier coach Michael Noszka said. "It's all for the greater glory of God, the way we play, the way the kids feel for each other. You try to win a state championship, it's just an insurmountable thing to do. We accomplished a lot of great things. We made just incredible plays all year long."

St. Xavier started off hot with a 10-4 lead after Joe Kirby connected on the first of his trio of 3-pointers in the quarter. Moeller battled back behind Alex Williams and the score was tied at 16 until the final shot of the frame, a 3-pointer by Kobe Rodgers for a 19-16 lead. 

A Rodgers 3-pointer later tied the game at 28 late in the second quarter. Before half's end, Duncomb was fouled and converted one of two free throws for the one-point halftime advantage. 

Moeller's collective wingspans began to have an effect in the third quarter as Duncomb was able to dunk and Noyes and Mahaffey were changing shots near the goal.  Moeller's lead was 44-40 after three.

"It's hard to simulate all that size and length," Noszka said. 

Moeller would extend the lead to nine in the fourth but the Bombers fought back again from Kirby's long-range game. With 10 seconds left, Moeller's Duncomb blocked a Kirby attempt out of bounds. Out of a timeout, Kirby rolled around a pick and drained a trey from the left corner to tie the game at 57.

In overtime, when Moeller seemingly pulled away, the Bombers continued fighting back. Down six with District Player of the Year Rodgers fouled out, Kirby was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made the free throws and Louie Semona drained a trey. After a missed free throw by Noyes, St. Xavier's Joey Vanover was fouled and tied the game at 69 on free throws. However, Kirby fouled Aidan Turner who converted one, then  Mahaffey stole the ball on St. Xavier's ensuing full-court play. After his free throws it was 72-69 and that would be that as Duncomb waved to his St. Xavier antagonists before departing the floor. 

"We definitely wanted revenge," Duncomb said. "Especially since St. X likes to talk a lot of smack after their wins."

Moeller is now 26-0 in OHSAA tournament games dating back to a 2017 state final loss to Massillon Jackson. Seniors Duncomb and Williams were key members on the 2019 state championship team that included current West Virginia standout Miles McBride. 

Moeller now faces Centerville Saturday night. The Crusaders defeated the Elks 71-58 in a regular-season contest.

"Southwest Ohio, I think anyone can take a look at the region and know it's really going to take a lot to get out of here," Kremer said. 

Moeller makes a 5th straight regional final, but it wasn't easy.

See their overtime classic against St. X tonight. @MoellerBBall @stxsports @AidanNoyes35 @LoganDuncomb @_Jkirb3 @STXBBALL @LetsGoBigMoe pic.twitter.com/WRJa0DAmwG

— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) March 11, 2021

It's an Overtime Final- Boys @OHSAASports Division I Hoops Regional-Semi (Game 1):
St. Xavier- 69
Moeller- 72 pic.twitter.com/VC5RoqGfgM
— SWDAB (@SWDistrict) March 11, 2021
 

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