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Senior guard Tyler Peters and the Medina Bees fell one win shy of the Ohio Division I Sweet 16, but they had a memorable 20-3 season with a Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division title as well as a sectional title.
EATON TWP. -- Ronnie Willoughby, Eric Stuczynski and T.J. Thompson weren't household names at the start of the OHSAA Tournament, but they certainly are now.
Avon Lake's talented trio combined for 33 points and eight assists -- and were the best players on the court -- as the Shoremen beat Medina 52-46 to win the Grafton Midview Division I District championship on Saturday night.
Next up for No. 4 seed Avon Lake (17-7) is Mentor at the Cleveland State University Regional semifinals, while the top-seeded Bees finished their fine season at 20-3.
"We've always had people on our back, even in our own school, saying we couldn't win anything," said Willoughby, a junior center. "Well, we've won something big now. I guess we've proved a lot of people wrong this season."
The Shoremen -- in their first-ever D-I district final -- went ahead for good at 34-32 late in the third quarter, then fought off each Medina mini-run in the final period.
Willoughby (13 points), sophomore shooting guard Stuczynski (14 points) and senior point guard Thompson (6 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) were responsible for thwarting the Bees at every turn, preventing them from reaching the regional tournament for the first time in six years.
It was Avon Lake's second straight upset of a Medina County team as it stunned Brunswick 54-44 three nights earlier in the district semifinals.
"We flew under the radar to some people, but we've got 17 wins and some very good players," Shoremen coach Eric Smith said incredulously. "We don't care if everyone keeps ignoring us. We're going to have practice tomorrow and we've got another game on Wednesday."
Senior guard Tyler Peters paced Medina with 17 points and five assists, while sophomore power forward Kenny Kaminski had 10 points before fouling out. Junior center Matt Ellenbest added nine points on 4-of-6 shooting.
"Avon Lake played hard and they played well tonight," Ellenbest said. "They made baskets and defensive stops when they needed to. Give them credit for what they accomplished."
The Bees' last lead came midway through the third when Kaminski converted a three-point play to put them up 30-29. Avon Lake power forward Brandon Muck, however, immediately answered with a basket and foul shot of his own to give the Shoremen a 32-30 advantage.
Avon Lake's lead grew to 36-32 at the end of three, which it maintained the rest of the way despite Peters erupting for 10 fourth-quarter points.
"When you've got good players like Willoughby and Stuckzynski and Thompson, it's really like picking your poison," said Peters, an All-District first-team honoree. "Every time we made a run, they stopped us. They had so many players step up all night. That's what you expect a district champion to do."