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Rams Clinch Regional In Overtime
By Michael Sprague

For the first time in school history, the Trotwood-Madison boys basketball team has won a Regional Championship and is headed to the State Final Four in Columbus. The Rams prevailed in a thrilling overtime showdown with Lakota West Saturday night in Cincinnati’s Cintas Center, 71-68.
Trailing much of the evening, Trotwood battled back in the 4th quarter, even taking a late lead before the teams finished regulation tied at 61. The lead changed hands three times in the extra frame before a Patrick Hill three-pointer gave Trotwood the lead for good with 23 seconds to go.
The Firebirds had a chance to tie the game with no time on the clock at the end of overtime following a foul on a last-second three-point attempt. But when the first shot bounced off the rim, the Trotwood bench exploded onto the court to celebrate their Regional Title.
Hill’s big shot represented his only three points of the game, but there were plenty of other offensive heroes for the Rams. Armond Darby (14 points) had several huge plays in the first half to keep the Rams in the game. Ibrahim Marone (14 points) played big down low and was the focus of the Trotwood offensive attack down the stretch.
Chris Wright (12 points), named third-team All-State, played tough in his match up with Lakota West’s star senior Josh Chichester. And Duane Morgan added 12 off the bench in a second half burst that sparked Trotwood’s comeback.
Domonick Britt, Scott Jones, and Jerrell Leak added 4 points each for the Rams, while British Alexander and Matthew Lakes scored 2 apiece.
To get to Columbus, Trotwood went through three of the top-ranked teams in Cincinnati in a seven day span. Oak Hills, Princeton, and Lakota West, a combined 60-10, all fell to Coach Ike Thornton’s Rams. Trotwood becomes the first Dayton-area team in nearly two decades to advance to the Ohio Final Four in the state’s top high school division.
The Rams (21-5) will face Ohio’s third-ranked team Friday night at 8:30 p.m. in the state semi-final. Lancaster (25-1) defeated Elder 52-49 Saturday night to win the Columbus Regional Championship. The two teams met in a pre-season exhibition game last fall, with Trotwood winning by one point.
The Ram’s State Championship Tournament game in Columbus will start at 8:30pm Friday.
See picture of team with the Regional Award at www.TotallyTrotwood.com

Game Schedule

The Trotwood Madison Rams Basketball team will leave for Columbus around 9:30 from the high school Thursday morning. Wave if you happen to see them go by!

Sunday at 2pm the high school will host a reception for the team win or lose. Wear your colors and come out to meet our winners!

Division 1 Game Schedule
(All games are played in Columbus at the Ohio State Schottenstein Center)

Game 1: Canton McKinley (23-2) vs. Toledo St. John's (21-5), 5:15 pm Friday

Game 2: Trotwood-Madison (20-5) vs. Lancaster (24-1), 8:30 pm Friday

Championship Game: 8:30 pm Saturday March 25

State Tournament Tickets At High School

Tickets for the Friday game and bus are available at the High School Spirit Store from 9-5 Wednesday and Thursday. The Spirit Store is in the High School Cafeteria. Saturday tickets will be available after the Friday game only in the auxiliary gym of the Schottenstein Center in Columbus. No advance tickets for Saturday’s final will be available in Trotwood.
Busses will leave at 5:30 Friday from the high school. For driving directions visit their web page
http://www.schottensteincenter.com/sections/arenaevents/eventcalendar.asp

Friday night tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door
There will be two adult buses $3 per person
Game and Bus tickets are available 9-5 through Thursday
T-shirts commemorating the Final Four are $10
Tickets may be purchased at the Spirit Shop in the HS cafeteria

On The Radio

WPTW-AM (1570) will broadcast the games live on radio and streaming audio on its Web site at 1570wptw.com

Trotwood Tournament Trivia

This is Boys Basketball second back-to-back regional championship and their first trip to the state finals.

Trotwood Madison has been to state six times
Boys Track in 1975 (Runner up)
Boys Football in 1981 (Runner Up)
Girls Track in 1983 (State Champions)
Girls Track in 1984 (State Champions)
Girls Track in 1995 (State Champions)
Boys Track in 2004 (Runner up)

Division 1 schools have 409 or more students enrolled
The Regions are Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo

Hot Links

(some of these links may expire next week so visit them soon)

Trotwood headed to state DDN
http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/preps/daily/0319trotwood.html

Speedy Opponent Undoes West Cin Enquirer
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060319/SPT0301/603190347/1069/SPT03

Golden Gales take beating, but win physical contest Col Dispatch
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/prep/preps.php?story=dispatch/2006/03/19/20060319-E11-01.html

Canton McKinley in state tournament Col Dispatch
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/prep/preps.php?story=dispatch/2006/03/19/20060319-E11-04.html

Trotwood-Madison little man a big-time scorer DDN
http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/preps/daily/0321replay.html

Dunbar, Trotwood go way back
http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/preps/daily/0322dunbartm.html

Trotwood-Madison, Lancaster played in preseason
http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/preps/daily/0322trotwood.html

DeSales basketball seeks state-champ status, too Col Dispatch
(article mentions Lancaster Coach facing Trotwood)
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/prep/preps.php?story=dispatch/2006/03/20/20060320-F16-00.html

Vanquished foes sing praises of McKinley
(favorite in the other Div 1 matchup)
http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=275701&Category=17

*****
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