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Last-second layup sends Bradley boys basketball to OHSAA state final
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- Last-second layup sends Bradley boys basketball to OHSAA state final
FAIRBORN – Thanks to the biggest win in program history, the Hilliard Bradley boys basketball team gets to play another day and face another challenge – its first Division I state final.
Jayden Reed-Davis' putback basket with half a second remaining lifted the Jaguars to a 44-42 win over Pickerington Central in a semifinal March 21 at Wright State.
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Bradley (25-2) will play Cincinnati Princeton (24-3) at 3:15 p.m. March 22 at University of Dayton Arena. Princeton rolled to a 77-51 win over Lakewood St. Edward in the first semifinal March 21.
"[Princeton] played great tonight," Bradley coach Brett Norris said. "Obviously, we'll have our hands full. They present challenges all over the court, but I know our guys will get a good night's sleep. ... It's been such a special journey, such a great adventure."
Norris said he and his players were excited to "have one more day together, and I know that we will be in the fight."
Tied at 42, Bradley milked nearly 1:30 off the clock before winning on Reed-Davis' basket. Kypton Norris missed a 3-pointer and the rebound deflected off the hands of Bradley's Anderson Felix to Reed-Davis.
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"I knew if he missed, I had to be there for the offensive rebound and that's what happened," Reed-Davis said.
Hilliard Bradley's Jayden Reed-Davis (11) celebrates with teammates after defeating Pickerington Central in the OHSAA state semifinal game at Wright State's Nutter Center on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Fairborn, Ohio.
Central's long inbounds pass was deflected, setting off a wild celebration.
In a neck-and-neck battle of two central Ohio powers, Bradley survived a game that featured six ties and only two lead changes.
Norris had a game-high 20 points. Reed-Davis scored 8, and Ben Mirgon had a team-high seven rebounds.
Landon Evans led Central (18-9) with 12 points and seven rebounds. Albee Moore had 11 points.
"We knew it was going to be that type of game going into it," Central coach Eric Krueger said. "It really came down to one or two possessions, two bounces. We weren't able to get that bounce tonight. Overall, I'm extremely proud of this group of young men. We had a tremendous season."
Pickerington Central's Landon Evans (23) attempts to shoot the ball against Hilliard Bradley in the first half of the OHSAA state semifinal game at Wright State's Nutter Center on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Fairborn, Ohio.
Central took its first lead at 37-36 on an Aaven Snyder bucket with 6:11 remaining and had its largest lead moments later at 39-36 on Titus O'Neal's basket in the lane.
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Bradley went ahead 42-39 on baskets by Felix and Reed-Davis and two free throws from Norris, but Central tied the game on KD Smith's 3-pointer with 1:30 remaining.
"It was really a hard-fought game," Brett Norris said. "It was tough for either team to find any offensive rhythm. I knew that they would make it tough for us. I was concerned about the force they play with, obviously, with the size advantage.
"Tonight was another typical game for our team. We just have had a response to adversity within games all year. We never flinch in a huddle and almost always respond and win the next possession. The end there signified what our team and what our program is all about."
High school sports reporter Frank DiRenna can be reached at fdirenna@dispatch.com and at @DispatchFrank on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Bradley edges Pickerington Central in OHSAA basketball state semi
