Norm Persin coaches Oak HillƵs boys basketball team against Coal Grove in the Beasts of the Southeast on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Chesapeake, Ohio. Now at South Webster, Persin has led his third school to the state semifinals.
Norm Persin coaches Oak HillƵs boys basketball team against Coal Grove in the Beasts of the Southeast on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Chesapeake, Ohio. Now at South Webster, Persin has led his third school to the state semifinals.
Making it to the state tournament never is old hat, but former Chesapeake boys basketball coach Norm Persin is happy to be there again for more reasons than himself.
Persin coached South Webster (26-3) to a 36-34 victory over Portsmouth Notre Dame on Saturday to earn a berth in the Division VII state Final Four at 7 p.m. Friday against Willoughby Cornerstone Christian Academy (20-8).
The other semifinal features Arlington (24-3) and 27-0 Russia (pronounced ROO-shee).
The state title game is at 5:15 p.m. March 22 at the University of Dayton.
ƵIt means a lot,Ƶ Persin said. ƵIt means more to these kids. IƵve won a state championship. IƵve been in these situations.Ƶ
Persin, 74, won a state championship with Oak Hill in 2009. He made the state tournament with Lucasville Valley in 2021. Persin coached two years at Wilmington and 21 seasons at Chesapeake, where the court is named for him.
PersinƵs teams have won 823 games, placing him third in the history of Ohio high school basketball coaches.
ƵGetting back to the state tournament means a lot,Ƶ Persin said. ƵThese kids, theyƵve worked really, really hard. ... IƵm really, really happy for them.Ƶ
Amazing Stats of the Week
Fairland wrestler C.J. Graham completed his high school career with 202 victories. Ƶhland girls basketballƵs Emilee Neese scored her 1,000th career point, as did Wayne boysƵ Ronnie Staley. George Washington girls basketballƵs Jeriyah Pryor scored 43 points in an 83-74 victory over Woodrow Wilson.
ChesapeakeƵs boys basketball team made the region finals, the Elite Eight, for the first time since 2010. Fairland girls basketballƵs Addison Godby recorded her 500th career rebound and 300th assist. Tug ValleyƵs boys and girls basketball teams each are 21-2 and have won 17 in a row.
Recruiting roundup
SIGNINGS: Gallia Academy trackƵs Brittyn Snedaker (Wittenberg).
OFFERS: Cabell Midland trackƵs Matthew Edwards (Evansville).
Notes, Quotes, Anecdotes
High school basketball official Bob Sparks retired after 52 seasons.
Minford boys basketball is headed to the state Final Four for the first time in program history. The Falcons have made the state semifinals in boys soccer, girls soccer and boys basketball this academic year.
GreenƵs brother/sister combination of Jon and Abbie Knapp were named Southern Ohio Conference Division I basketball players of the year.
Former Ƶhland basketball player Ella Sellars of Cedarville University was named second-team All-Midwest Athletic Conference.
Claude Spillman, son of former Marshall University and NFL player C.J. Spillman, of Louisville St. Xavier High School won the 200-meter dash in the KHSAA indoor track championships.
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