The Elks displayed a stellar performance throughout the game against the tough and athletic squad from Toledo Whitmer. They started strong, taking a commanding 15-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. Although Whitmer fought back and narrowed the gap to 24-18 at halftime, the Elks remained resilient.
The third quarter saw some challenges for the Elks as turnovers allowed Whitmer to get within 4 points. However, the Elks regrouped and took control of the game, pulling away from Whitmer. Standout players Eli Greenberg, Jamar Montgomery, and Ethan Greenburg carried the offensive load in the first half and early in the third quarter, as Baboucarr Njie was overcoming foul trouble and Jonathan Powell was held scoreless in the first half.
Heading into the fourth quarter with a 37-25 lead, the Elks continued to dominate, extending their lead to 45-29 with 4:55 remaining and ultimately securing the 58-39 victory. Eli Greenberg led the team with an impressive performance, scoring 19 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists. Jamar Montgomery contributed 14 points and 5 rebounds, while Jonathan Powell added 10 points and 6 rebounds, all in the second half. Ethan Greenberg also made a significant contribution with 8 points and 5 rebounds, highlighting the team's collective effort.
I cannot say enough about this team and this coaching staff. To be where we are now after how we ended the season is nothing short of a miracle. This team lost 4 of their last 6 games, their last 2 league home games (including senior night) and went into this tournament losers of 3 straight. This staff never quit and the kids certainly did not as well. No matter what happens tonight you have to respect what has occurred here and hopefully a huge crowd comes out to show that support. The Elks run also shows just how good the GWOC is in basketball. We did win the league but we had 4 league loses!
Fans and supporters can catch the action live at the State Championship game, with tickets available at www.ohsaa.org/tickets. The game will also be streamed live on Spectrum News 1, the Spectrum News App,
