BELMONT — Maysville has displayed the sort of poise one would expect from a team with nine seniors from teams coming off two state tournament berths.
That made a 16-15 deficit in the first quarter to overmatched East Liverpool all but inconsequential in their Division IV East District semifinal on March 3 at the ECO Center.
After yielding 20 first-quarter points, the Panthers scored 43 of the next 49 — including a 27-1 run to start the second half — in a 78-32 win that set up a fourth consecutive district final appearance.
Kane Roehrig scored a game-high 22 points with six 3-pointers and was a defensive force with five blocked shots as Maysville (23-1) won its 23rd straight game.
It sets up a final matchup at 7 p.m. on March 6 at Claymont High School against No. 5 seed Carrollton, which nipped No. 4 seed Lisbon Beaver Local, 58-56, in the other semifinal.
“They’ve got a really good point guard (in Tayvion Johnson), a sophomore,” Maysville coach Dave Brown said. “He had 16 of 18 against us last year when we played them at the Shot Clock Classic in Canton. They’re big and physical so we will have to be ready to go.”
Slow start, big finish
You’ll have to forgive Maysville for its sluggish start.
The team arrived to the venue later than usual after an afternoon crash on Interstate 70, near Old Washington, backed up traffic and led to the team, many patrons and even a game official to arrive later than anticipated.
Coupled with the Panthers not getting to practice at the ECO Center the day prior, due to snow, and the recipe for a sluggish start was evident.
“We got there a little after 6, you know, which made me nervous,” Brown said. “It was just a little out of our routine. Hopefully we’ll learn from that, because if you continue in the tournament you have got to play 32 minutes of basketball.”
With a potential regional semifinal matchup against John Glenn or Cambridge looming at the ECO Center, rather than the Ohio Convocation Center, Brown was glad his team got some experience in one of the quirky venues anywhere.
His team’s only experience in the more than 3,000-seat venue was a November 2025 scrimmage.
“It’s a gym that is unique with all of the open space,” Brown said. “That is why we really wanted to come in and get a practice, but it didn’t work out that way. … We did shoot it pretty well.”
How well? The Panthers were 12-of-25 on 3s, with Roehrig hitting 6 of 9.
Playing big
Roehrig was the exception to the early struggles.
The Panthers’ versatile 6-5 post player with a 46-point game to his credit this season, hit two first-quarter 3-pointers and had two more in the second in a 16-point first half. Both threes in the second came in a 16-3 run that saw the Potters go 6:03 without scoring.
By then, it was 38-23 and the rout was officially underway. Maysville didn’t yield a field goal in a stretch of almost 13 minutes in the second half.
Roehrig’s long arm of the law played a key role in the point prevention, fully living up to the “fly swatter” moniker bestowed upon him by his neighbor.
“It just kept coming down the lane,” Roehrig said. “They were just playing off one foot. I mean, me, Kade (Rock) and Jordyn (Watson), we all got a couple of blocks. Owen (Larimer) got a block when he came in.”
Brown was hardly surprised at the offensive outburst. While often a forgotten man on a team with many versatile threats, his presence — and capability — is revered by his teammates and coaches.
“That’s ‘Big Game Kane,'” Brown said. “I thought we were struggling a little bit. He hit three or four threes that got us going. I mean, he doesn’t have to score 20 every night, but he can if we really need it.”
Gator Nichols scored 14 of his 19 in the second half, Landon Iden added 16 points and Gavin Ferguson eight. A large majority came in transition during an overwhelming second half.
Brown would prefer the pedal be activated quicker.
“When they came out and punched us in the mouth — (sometimes) we forget that every team is bringing their best shot,” Brown said. “I thought for a quarter they played really well and inspired. We forced 32 turnovers and I’d say 80% of those came in the last three quarters.”
John Glenn 87, Claymont 65: C.J. Dolan and Stehl Bates combined for 52 points as the surging Muskies won their 22nd straight game a high-scoring affair in a Division IV East District semifinal at Coshocton High School.
Dolan fired in 21 of his 31 points in the second half, which included 12 with two 3-pointers in 26-point third quarter for the Muskies that opened up a 68-50 lead.
Bates scored 17 of his 21 in the first half, an effort that included a 7-of-7 showing on free throws. John Glenn was 19-of-20 from the line overall.
Brayden Davis chipped in 15 points and Ben Stamm 10 for John Glenn, which led 42-34 at the half.
Cole Murray paced four Mustangs in double figures with 15 points. Jackson Jinks added 14 points and Jonas Lyles 13.
John Glenn (23-1) advanced to play No. 2 seed Cambridge (22-2) at 7 p.m. on Friday for a regional bid.
sblackbu@usatodayco.com; X: @SamBlackburnTR
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: ‘Big Game Kane’ helps Maysville shake off slow start vs. E. Liverpool
Reporting by Sam Blackburn, Zanesville Times Recorder / Zanesville Times Recorder
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
