The Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Division Two Basketball “Final Four” will have been played out by the time you read this edition of the Recorder.  You can read all about the game(s) in Dayton in our next edition.
North Royalton won the Kent State Regional to qualify for the “Final Four” thanks to their 40-38 win over Brecksville-Broadview Heights.  Strange how things work out.  The Bears finished second behind the Bees in the Suburban League National Conference standings.  North Royalton lost to Brecksville twice in the regular season, 51-47 and 63-48.
And yet to advance, North Royalton has to beat the Suburban League National Champs who they had lost to twice during the regular season.
North Royalton Head Coach Nick Lapsevich says what makes the Bears dangerous at this time of year is that they play as a team.  “We have different guys on different nights.  We need guys to step up at different times and guys do that.  That’s what this team is all about.”
In order to play in a State Championship game or even a State Semifinal game, Lapsevich says a team can’t be centered around one player.  “Our program is built around playing together and sharing it.”
Bears Fans remember very well what happened last year.  North Royalton made the Final Four in Division II.  They played the State Semifinal at the Canton Fieldhouse against Massillon Perry and lost 66-63.
Lapsevich believes his team learned some important lessons from last year’s State Semi-final game.
“I think the experience helps.  I think the hard part during the season was that the expectations for the team were really high.  And I try not to bring up last season too much.  But this is a new year, and I don’t want guys putting too much pressure on themselves.”
“This has been a different kind of year for the Bears.  Everything hasn’t been smooth.  “Everybody was gunning for us this year.  We’ve had some ups and downs.  A lot that was from Sean being out for 17 games.  Now it’s time to bring it back together,” says Coach Lapsevich.  Sean Bunsey missed the first 17 games because of injury, and his teammates are glad to have him back.
“We’re really hungry.  We’re really excited.  We’re having a good time.  I think those are the ingredients in making a championship run,” says Coach Lapsevich.
We’ll have a wrap up on the State Final Four in our next edition.

Editor’s Note – After the Recorder went to press, the Westerville North Boys Basketball Team had a 74-49 win over the North Royalton Bears on March 21 in an OHSAA Division II state semifinal at Wright State’s Nutter Center.

By Joe Jastrzemski
Contributing Writer