The perfect season for the Canton Timken boys basketball team came to an end Monday night.

The Toledo Whitmer Panthers defeated the previously unbeaten Trojans 62-47 in a Division I regional championship game at Rhodes Arena on the campus of the University of Akron.

Whitmer improved to 20-5 and advanced to the state final four in Columbus behind a solid showing offensively and defensively.

Senior Christian Alston paced the Trojans with 15 points and senior Johnie Davis had 10 points. The Trojans were plagued by poor shooting.

Timken ends the season with a 24-1 record.

The Canton Timken boys basketball team will play Toledo Whtimer tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Rhodes Arena in a Division I regional championship game at the University of Akron.

The winner of tonight’s game advances to Columbus for the state final four at Value City Arena on the campus of Ohio State University.

Timken, 24-0 this season, is seeking its first appearance in the state final four since 1960.

Timken and Whitmer have had to wait to play this game, orginally scheduled for Saturday, due to the heavy snowfall that recently hit Northeast Ohio.

Timken has defeated Massillon Washington, Jackson, Perry and Firestone so far in the tournament.

Senior guards Johnie Davis and Christian Alston and junior forward Chaz Moore led the Trojans past the Falcons this past Thursday.

If Timken wins the regional title it will mark the fifth consecutive season the Canton district winner will qualify for the state final four. GlenOak advanced to state in 2007 and Canton McKinley advanced to state in 2004, 2005 and 2006. McKinley won state titles in 2005 and 2006.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Varsity Letters Player of the Game: Revere junior forward Emilee Vitez scored nine of her team’s 11 fourth-quarter points to carry the Minutemen (16-3, 11-2) to a crucial Suburban League victory on Wednesday night.

Vitez, who finished with a team-high 13 points, was able to break free from Green defenders several times in the fourth quarter, catch passes from her teammates and make wide-open layups.

“We had communication on the backside,” Vitez said. “We all knew that the backside wing was open from tape we were watching. It was just great how we all worked together in the fourth quarter.”

With the win, Revere moved into a tie with Wadsworth (14-5, 11-2) for first place in the league standings.

Revere will play Copley next Wednesday in the final Suburban League game of the season for both teams. If the Minutemen win, they will earn at least a share of their first league title since 1978.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Varsity Letters player of the game: Kent Roosevelt junior guard Andre Paulk scored 10 of his team-high 19 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Rough Riders to a Portage Trail Conference Metro Division victory.

Paulk’s stellar performance off the Rough Riders’ bench included a highlight dunk and a near full-court 3-pointer.

“That’s Andre,” Kent Roosevelt coach Cameron Black said of Paulk. “He can play the game.”

MIKE CARDEW/Akron Beacon Journal

Kent Roosevelt junior guard Andre Paulk scored a team-high 19 points to lead the Rough Riders over the Ravens.

Click here for a Ravenna vs. Kent Roosevelt game story.

BOYS BASKETBALL

REVERE 76, GREEN 59

Revere junior guard Zack Weidrick scored a season-high 21 points to lead the Minutemen (7-5, 3-3 in the Suburban League) to their sixth consecutive victory.

“Zack is really doing a good job of making good decisions, playing within himself, being patient and letting the game come to him,” Revere coach Dean Rahas said. “I’m really pleased with the things he’s doing out there.”

The game between Revere and Green (4-6, 2-4) featured an unusually high amount of fouls. Green was charged with 33 fouls, and Revere was charged with 20. The Bulldogs sank 14-of-20 foul shots, and the Minutemen made 36-of-52 free throws.

Weidrick, who also plays quarterback for the Revere football team, nailed nine-of-11 foul shots.

LEW STAMP/Akron Beacon Journal

Revere junior guard Zack Weidrick drives past Ben Pollock of Green on Friday night. Weidrick made nine-of-11 free throws on his way to a season-high 21 points during Revere’s 76-59 win over Green.

BOYS BASKETBALL

BARBERTON 71, COPLEY 51

Varsity Letters Player of the Game: Barberton senior guard Steve Pitts scored five of his 11 points to help the Magics close the first half with a 13-3 run. With the help of the scoring run, Barberton earned a 33-19 halftime lead and never looked back Tuesday in a game between two Suburban League rivals.

Pitts didn’t lead Barberton (4-0, 3-0) in scoring but his points came during a crucial time in the game. He also guarded Copley’s lone returning starter, senior forward/guard Michael Coon, and held him to six points.

“(Pitts is) probably our best defensive player,” said Barberton sophomore guard Jacob North, who had a team-high 14 points. “And he brings a lot of energy. He gets us all ready for the game. He’s a good guy, and he’s a great leader.”

Copley junior guard Elliot Brown is worthy of an honorable mention for player of the game. Brown made several mid-range jump shots on his way to a game-high 20 points.

“He obviously played very well,” Copley coach Steve Coon said of Brown. “He rebounded the ball well and shot it well, so he was a bright spot for us.”

Copley’s record fell to 2-3, 1-2.

Click here for the game story.

KEN LOVE/Akron Beacon Journal

Copley junior guard DeLon Evans (left) and senior forward Michael Coon (right) try to block Barberton junior guard Darryle Duncan’s shot. Duncan finished with 13 points to help the Magics defeat the Indians 71-51 on Tuesday night.

This morning, I attended a banquet for the Jack Greynolds Memorial Classic.

At the banquet, the late Jack Greynolds was honored for the impact he made in Northeast Ohio. Greynolds compiled a 549-121 record in 29 seasons as a head boys basketball coach at Revere and Barberton. He led the Magics to a state title in 1976.

The third annual Jack Greynolds Memorial Classic is scheduled to feature seven boys basketball games Dec. 28-29.

Here is the schedule: (Friday, Dec. 28) Copley vs. Medina 5:15 p.m., Green vs. Jackson 7 p.m. and GlenOak vs. Warren Harding; (Saturday, Dec. 29) Norton vs. Wadsworth noon, Revere vs. Kenmore 1:45 p.m., Manchester vs. Northwest 3:30 p.m. and Barberton vs. Firestone 5:30 p.m.

Click here for more information about the Jack Greynolds Memorial Classic.

Several of the coaches whose teams will be competing in the showcase were at the banquet. Firestone coach Jerry Laria brought his senior point guard Ramel Mitchell with him.

I talked to Mitchell about the Falcons’ 3-0 start and his plans for college. He said he is receiving interest from Kent State University, but he is still undecided about which college he will attend.

I think Mitchell would be a good fit in KSU coach Jim Christian’s system. I think Mitchell is one of the best high school guards in the area, and perhaps the best pound-for-pound local player.

After covering the Wadsworth-Revere girls game Wednesday night, it is obvious both teams are going to win many times this season. Revere’s Casey Nance and Wadsworth’s Rachel DeMita and Britt Busson are the most recognizable names.
But Revere junior forward Emilee Vitez impressed and not just because of her 16 points and six rebounds. She made a series of floor plays that helped Revere.
For Wadsworth, senior guard Chrissy Pavlik took over in the last three minutes in a closing 13-2 run. She was in the middle of every play down the stretch and hit eight straight free throws in the final minute

GlenOak basketball player C.J. McCollum scored a school-record 54 points to lead the host Golden Eagles to a 92-78 victory over North on Saturday night.

McCollum, a junior guard, made eight 3-pointers in the season opening game for both schools.

BOYS BASKETBALL

KENMORE 68, WALSH JESUIT 54

Varsity Letters Player of the Game: Kenmore senior forward Antoine Norris had game highs with 18 points and seven rebounds to lead the Cardinals to victory in their season opener.

Click here for a Kenmore vs. Walsh Jesuit game story.