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Yappi.com writer CANTON-Three years ago, the Massillon Tigers introduced a new feeling to the Canton McKinley Bulldogs: the meaning of what it was like to lose a district championship under longtime head coach Dave Hoover. Three years later, the Bulldogs responded to their archrivals from the western part of Stark County, making them the third straight opponent in three years to fall short on the biggest stage at the Canton Civic Center. After trailing for the first time all season to a non-nationally ranked team at halftime, the Bulldogs used their experience in big games, a near-flawless third quarter and a dominating 45-27 second half to finish off the Tigers 68-51 in front of 4,157 avid high school basketball fans to retain their district championship. The win marked the eighth district crown for McKinley under Hoover and presented them with a second three-peat. They won three district titles in a row from 1996-98 and now 2004, 2005, and 2006. The win for the seniors on the team also avenged the bitter taste of a 71-67 loss to the Tigers in the 2003 district title game. But that was not on the minds of those players according to Hoover. "I can't say enough of how proud I am for the kids in the four years that I have coached them," he said. "For the four years they have been here, they have won three district titles and now we have put them in a very good position to make greater things happen down the road." Canton McKinley won the first meeting against the Tigers in front of 2,976 fans inside the Massillon Washington gym 83-66. The second game was going to be of greater importance. The Bulldogs knew this as they took the floor to make the second defense of their crown. In the first half both teams failed to establish any type of momentum. Massillon led 14-12 after one quarter and 24-23 at the half, but with the score so close and the competition so fierce, the game was still a toss-up at that point. Tigers junior guard Brian Gamble scored on a lay-up and early in the quarter, the Tigers had their largest lead at 36-31 in the game. Were the Tigers poised to land a knockout punch heard around the state of Ohio? Not if the Bulldogs had something to say about it. Raymar Morgan dribbled to the right end of the court and rammed home a fierce two-handed dunk that lifted the Canton McKinley fans right out out their seats. Massillon called a timeout to quiet down the vocal Bulldog crowd. Greg Fite's lay-up after the timeout put the Tigers back on top 38-36 but it would be the last time for the season that they would hold the advantage. McKinley used a game-busting 8-0 run that included two lay-ups by Morgan, a steal and lay-up by Marcus Parker, and a Todd Brown outside jump shot to possess a 44-38 lead after three quarters. The Bulldogs shot a pristine 10/12 from the field for an astonishing 83 percent in the quarter while Massillon players Mario Edwards and Ricardo Wells spent the entire third quarter on the bench with four personal fouls. The Bulldogs effectively ended any Massillon attempt for their second district crown in four years in the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run that gave them a 52-40 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Bulldogs fans vociferously showed their approval while the facility started to devoid itself of orange. Canton McKinley was on its way to its third straight district title and Massillon was resigned to another second 17-point defeat to the defending champions. Hoover also improved to 3-1 against Massillon veteran head coach Matt Creamer in the tournament. Canton McKinley improved to 21-2 and will make the trek to the James A. Rhodes Arena on the University of Akron campus for a regional semifinal with the Barberton Magics, winners of the Copley district over the Stow Bulldogs 49-43. Raymar Morgan, a Michigan State recruit led the Bulldogs with 27 points. Massillon saw their season end at 20-3. Despite the loss, Creamer does not want his team to judge their season based on two losses to Canton McKinley. To do so would diminish the record-breaking 18-2 regular season the Tigers had this season. "Don't make this loss the highlight of your lives. I want my players to have the best success in life," Creamer said. "We want to come back here with a vengeance next season and get back to the district championship game. If we work hard over the summer and carry that to next season, the title will be coming back home to Massillon." For now, the title remains in Canton. The Bulldogs seniors end their district tournament careers 11-1, culminated with their third straight crown and the eighth under Hoover. "It is a testament to Canton McKinley basketball. These players know what it means to play for Canton McKinley and they know the importance of that when they wear McKinley on their jerseys," he said. Canton McKinley gave Massillon a taste of what Warren Harding and Austintown-Fitch experienced the last two years: watching the Bulldogs stake their claim as the best team ever to play in the Canton Division I district tournament. |
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