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Glenville Basketball Advances to First-Ever State Final
CANTON, Ohio – The Glenville boys basketball team is on the brink of history, advancing to the OHSAA Division IV state championship game for the first time in school history after a commanding 62-42 victory over Hawken on Saturday at Canton Memorial Field House.
The Tarblooders (20-7) set the tone early, leading 30-21 at halftime and never looking back. Their relentless defensive pressure and efficient shooting proved too much for the Hawks (20-8) to overcome.
Xavier Vickerstaff led Glenville with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Gary Pritchett added 16 points and four assists. Daron Hill paced Hawken with 15 points but struggled to find offensive rhythm as Glenville’s defense tightened in the second half.
Hawken showed brief signs of a comeback, cutting the deficit to 32-27 midway through the third quarter, but Glenville responded with a decisive 10-0 run. By the fourth quarter, the Tarblooders extended their lead to 58-42, sealing the game with suffocating defense and key buckets from Vickerstaff and Pritchett.
Now, Glenville sets its sights on the state championship game, hoping to join its football team in bringing home a title. The Tarblooders’ first-ever trip to the basketball state final marks a significant milestone for the program, and they will look to cap off their historic run with a championship victory.
