DAYTON — Monroe Central’s boys’ basketball team took the term March Madness to its fullest Saturday afternoon.

The Seminoles (26-3) brought home the Ohio Division VI state championship with a cherished, 42-35, victory over Marion Local before a crowd of 7,285 packed inside the University of Dayton Arena.

With the wire-to-wire win, Monroe Central became the first Ohio boys basketball team from the immediate Ohio Valley to capture a state title since Yorkville won the Class B championship in 1943. Martins Ferry also won the Class A state title two years earlier.

“I thought our boys played really well today. We talked about togetherness … trusting each other and I thought today that really showed through,” Monroe Central head coach Mason Lang said.

It’s an often-used cliche in sports: offense puts points on the board, but defense wins championships. The Seminoles’ offense scored enough points and their in-you-face defense is what won them the school’s second state championship – the other coming in 2004 when the softball team went a spotless 32-0.

“That was a really well-coached team,” Lang said of the Flyers (26-3). “They challenged us on the offensive end and we really struggled to score, but our defense stepped up at the other end. I thought Chance Allen and Corbin Farnsworth played great defensively, and Tucker Howell on the back side getting the rebounds.”

The trademark of Monroe Central all season has been to get out to a fast start and make teams play at its pace. Such was the case.

“We always talk about when you’re the underdog you have to come out swinging,” Lang noted. “They were the No. 1 team in the state. We said if we are going to win this game, we’ve got to come out strong. We landed the first punch, got out to an early lead and were able to run with it from there.”

The Seminoles broke out to a 7-0 lead and led 14-6 after one quarter as sophomore Corbin Farnsworth netted six of his team-high 12 points on a pair of treys. It was, however, the Seminoles’ tenacious defense that forced the Flyers into six turnovers in the first eight minutes, including three on their first four possessions.

“I believe we’ve played good defense all year. These guys have trusted in our game plan,” Lang stressed. “I thought Corbin did a great job on the (Austin) Niekamp kid. He held him to 13 points, but most of those came in the second half. When you play against a team like that you have to play great team defense. Our (assistant) coaches did a great job of scouting and had the kids prepared.”

Monroe Central built its lead to nine, 19-10, on a basket by junior Caedyn Silva and consecutive buckets by the 6-2 Farnsworth bumped the margin to the biggest lead of the game, 23-10, but Marion Local reeled off seven quick points in the final 90 seconds of the quarter to trail, 23-17, at the half.

“We knew they liked to play at a slower pace, so if we could hit some shots early, that would make them speed up their game some,” Lang added. “Corbin hit a couple of outside shots, as did Cooper (Howell).”

A 5-1 run by the Flyers to start the third quarter sliced the deficit to 24-22, near the midway point of the period. However, a basket by Tucker Howell made it 26-22 at the media timeout, and younger brother, Cooper, buried a three from the right wing as the designated hosts held a 30-24 advantage with a quarter left to play.

A flurry of turnovers by both teams to start the final eight minutes negated any scoring opportunities, but a basket by Marion Local’s Brayden Mescher made it 30-26 and the Flyer faithful were on their feet.

However, Monroe Central’s Jacob Fogle quickly sent those same fans back in their seats. The senior knocked down a huge three-pointer from the left corner for a 33-26 and the Flyers never got any closer than five down the stretch.

“That was a really big shot by Jacob,” Lang praised. “Marion Local had made a little run and he knocked down a big one.”

“Give Monroe Central credit,” Marion Local head coach Kurt Goettemoeller said. “We knew they liked to start fast and play at their pace. They did just that.”

In addition to his 12 points, Farnsworth handed out three assists and grabbed a trio of rebounds. Cooper Howell and Allen evenly divided 20 markers, with Allen tickling the twine on all six of his free throw attempts. Tucker Howell grabbed nine rebounds. The Howell’s each had three steals.

Monroe Central shot 45.2 percent (14-31) for the game to 36.8 (14-38) for Marion Local. The Flyers led 26-22 off the glass and had four more turnovers at 15-11.

TIP INS

– The ECO Center could be called the ‘Place Where Champions Play’ after the weekend. Four teams that played in the facility captured state titles: Maysville (Ohio, D-IV); Cleveland Hts. Lutheran East (Ohio, Division V); Monroe Central (Ohio, Division VI); and Wheeling Central (W.Va., Class AA).

– With the win, Monroe Central took out a pair of perennial Ohio football powerhouses – Kirtland and Marion Local – in doing so.

– The Monroe Central faithful once again turned out in full force in support of the Seminoles.