OHSAA State Championship Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The OHSAA state championship games saw Saint Ignatius, Kettering Alter, Lutheran East and Richmond Heights be crowned state champions in the final year of the four Division model. In this article we'll spotlight one player from each of the winning teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1432020"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of the elite shooters in Ohio, Winters made some big shots for a Richmond Heights team that cruised to a third consecutive state championship. The five 3-pointers he knocked down allowed Richmond Heights to have the space on the floor for guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1352459' first='Hosea' last='Steele'] to attack downhill off the dribble. Winters also helped out as a rebounder and when Richmond Heights forced 16 turnovers, he was usually down the court ready to knock down an open shot or get to the rim for a layup. The 2025 core that Richmond Heights has is a perfect 3/3 in state championships, they will look to win a fourth next March.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1222354"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The dominant force for Lutheran East, McCulloch will likely go down as the best player to ever put on a Falcon uniform. With back-to-back state titles with a dominant, 18 point, 9 rebound and 4 block performance, McCulloch dominated in multiple phases of the game against a scrappy Harvest Prep squad. With a size advantage in the paint, McCulloch was efficient as he shot 8/11 on 2-point field goals. The Falcons graduate four of their five starters from this year's squad, freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2144496' first='Chris' last='Hill'] was productive in this game and might have to be the leader on a new look team for the LUE.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["2378958"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"A career high in the state title game? A career high in the state title game for [player_tooltip player_id='2378958' first='Joe' last='Brand'] as he made big play after big play for Kettering Alter in the second half to push the Knights to glory. 7/9 from the field and drawing 8 fouls on the Panthers, Brand was efficient in all areas of the game. He shot the ball with confidence off the catch when it was swung to him and was patient when attacking closeouts off the bounce. A steady contributor all season who would make plays, Brand had his one shining moment under the bright lights of UD Arena in his last high school game.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2047486"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Saint Ignatius won due to a great effort by their seniors. Even without Sam Springer due to injury, it was Lamirand, [player_tooltip player_id='1491436' first='Reece' last='Robinson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1368787' first='Matt' last='Ellis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1950566' first='Jack' last='Zapolnik'] making big play after big play. I wanted to highlight Lamirand who shot the ball well from the outside, going 3/3 from 3-point range. Making a bigger effort on the defensive end of the floor, Lamirand blocked a pair of jumpers and was active all game in help-side and making defensive rotations. Also going hard after loose balls, Lamirand pulled down seven defensive rebounds to end possessions for the Wildcats. To win a Division I state title you obviously need star power, but what separates the teams that win on the biggest stage is getting production from role guys and Lamirand was a key X-factor in the Wildcats state title victory.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6601b3966d166"} /-->