Throughout the season, head coach Don Ogden made sure they didn’t forget it, either, as they worked their way to earning the top seed in the Class 2A field.

The reminders and hard work culminated in accomplishing the goal Saturday as the Crusaders captured their first OVAC title since 1993, fending off rival Toronto 43-38 inside the ECO Center.

“Every month I reminded the guys it’s been 32 years since the last OVAC championship came to this school,” Ogden said. “I’m so happy for Catholic Central, all of the players that have played at Central, this is a huge thing. It puts us on the map again and gives us respectability.

“I give a lot of credit to Toronto, it could have gone either way. We’re very grateful to win. The kids held their composure throughout the game and didn’t give up.”

The trophy did not come easy, as the Red Knights led at halftime and went on a couple of scoring runs in the second half to surge back ahead. Central, though had the needed answers.

In the third quarter, after the Crusaders (18-3) had rattled off a 9-0 run to surge in front, Toronto (16-6) went on an 8-2 run. Central, though, countered to lead 28-25 going to the fourth.

The Red Knights then went on a 9-2 run in the fourth and took a three-point lead, forcing a Central timeout.

From there, the Crusaders had their last, most important response, rattling off the next seven points to surge back in front by four.

“That response was huge,” Ogden said. “We had been a little inconsistent offensively, when they went back up I thought it was going to be a struggle but the guys dug in and played good defense and made some key shots.”

Within three in the final minute, Toronto had a look for 3 to tie the game, but the shot was off line and the rebound went to the Crusaders, Benji Rook connecting on a pair of free throws at the other end to seal the deal.

“We played uncharacteristic, I don’t know what it was, but we have to figure it out before Tuesday,” Toronto head coach Sean Tucker said. “We thought we had prepared well for this game, we didn’t execute well tonight. We just couldn’t get everybody on the same page for some reason and that’s on me. We gave up 14 points in transition, that’s just not something we do, we did not do a good job of getting back.

“It’s upsetting that you work so hard to get here and then that’s how you perform. It’s heartbreaking for our two seniors. We played a very senior-heavy team that’s been playing together for a while, congratulations to them.”

Rook was named game MVP, finishing with 11 points, four assists and three steals. He was one of seven Crusaders to score in a balanced effort.

Camden Bradley finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds, an assist and two blocks for a double-double.

“This victory was truly a team effort,” Ogden said. “That’s what you want, you want all the guys contributing as much as they can. Even the guys that didn’t score much were playing good defense. Overall it’s just a great win for Catholic Central.”

For the Red Knights, who had led by six late in the first quarter but not by more than a possession after that, Austin Buchanan tallied a game-high 19 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a steal, while Brady Fair netted 10 points.

UP NEXT

Toronto: Will look to bounce back Tuesday when it hosts Buckeye Trail in the opening round of the OHSAA East District Tournament.

Catholic Central: Has one more game before the district tournament, traveling to cross-river rival Madonna on Monday night.

OVAC Boys Basketball Championships

Class 2A Final

at the ECO Center

No. 1 Catholic Central 43, No. 2 Toronto 38

T 12-5-8-13 – 38

C 8-7-13-15 – 43

TORONTO (16-6): Filby 0-1 0-0 0; Grimes 2-5 0-0 5; Joynson 2-4 0-0 4; Buchanan 6-12 3-5 19; Fair 5-9 0-0 10; Dickinson 0-2 0-0 0; Henry 0-1 0-0 0; Heckathorn 0-0 0-0 0; Rebich 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 15-34, 3-5; 38.

CATHOLIC CENTRAL (18-3): Rook 3-10 3-4 11; Mihalyo 1-5 1-2 3; Pergi 2-3 1-2 5; Rohde 2-2 0-0 4; Bradley 2-4 7-7 11; Krupp 2-5 2-2 7; Michell 1-3 0-0 2; Poulin 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 13-32, 14-17; 43.

3-POINT GOALS: Toronto 5 (Buchanan 4, Grimes); Catholic Central 3 (Rook 2, Krupp). ASSISTS: Toronto 6 (Joynson 2, Buchanan 2); Catholic Central 6 (Rook 4). REBOUNDS: Toronto 17 (Buchanan 8); Catholic Central 23 (Bradley 10). STEALS: Toronto 4 (Filby, Joynson, Buchanan, Fair); Catholic Central 6 (Rook 3). BLOCKS: Toronto 3 (Joynson 2); Catholic Central 3 (Bradley 2). TURNOVERS: Toronto 12; Catholic Central 8.