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'We all share the love': Hoban students, staff celebrate basketball state championship
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- 'We all share the love': Hoban students, staff celebrate basketball state championship
Archbishop Hoban students and teachers celebrated the Knights boys basketball team Friday during a pep assembly inside Barry Gymnasium.
Music and applause reigned over coach T.K. Griffith and his players as Hoban basked in the glow of a Division I state championship victory over Pickerington Central this past Sunday night at University of Dayton Arena.
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Starters Will Scott Jr., Logan Vowles, Andrew Griffith, Jonas Nichols and Sam Greer sat in chairs lined up on the court alongside the rest of their teammates.
"We all share the love," Vowles said. "We all feed the ball to whoever is hot that night and all we all succeed off of each other. I definitely will never forget going down to UD Arena. That atmosphere is a lot different. Having our students from school come down to cheer us on means a lot."
Jonas Nichols goofs around with the game net from Hoban's state championship win during a pep rally held at the school's gym, Friday, March 24, 2023.
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The state championship trophy and first-place medals were nearby as public address announcer Brian Saus, a 1990 Hoban graduate, introduced coaches and players at the beginning of the assembly.
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Hoban President Chris DiMauro and T.K. Griffith, who is also Hoban's principal, shared comments.
Hoban players Lamar Sperling, left, Jonas Nichols, top, and I'Vante Barclay, right, cheer as Will Scott, center, is announced during a pep rally to celebrate the Knights' first state basketball championship since 1989, Friday, March 24, 2023.
"I would love to add a core value to our core values here. If I could do it today, I would add gratitude," said T.K. Griffith, a senior reserve on Hoban's 1989 Division III boys basketball state championship team .
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"Gratitude is what we have in our hearts for this experience that has truly been a gift from God. I feel like maybe divine providence has it in there already."
Hoban boys basketball coach TK Griffith holds up the 2023 state championship trophy during a pep rally Barry Gym.
Hoban boys basketball coach TK Griffith gives a speech during a pep rally celebrating the Knights' first state title since 1989 in the school's gym, Friday, March 24, 2023.
Hoban concluded this season at UD Arena with a state semifinal win over Toledo St. John's Jesuit before the state final victory over Pickerington Central .
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"I have cried everyday this week, except today, so my goal is not to cry today," said T.K. Griffith, who completed his 30th season as coach and thanked administrators, teachers, coaches and fans for their support.
"... When we went to Dayton, we wanted to get on the radar and you can't get on the radar unless you're flying a plane, correct? When we went to Dayton I took the boys to the field where the Wright brothers invented flight because I wanted them to think about dreams and I wanted them to think about visions. We never want to lose our dreams and I wanted to take them where the Wright brothers dreamed of flight. … We never want to stop dreaming."
Andrew Griffith , a senior, shared a poem he wrote for his father and coach, which drew laughter from his fellow students.
Hoban senior Andrew Griffith, left, speaks during a pep rally as his teammates look on, Friday, March 24, 2023.
"These past few days have been kind of weird because it is over," Andrew Griffith said moments later.
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"The grind of the season is over, but at the same time it is so fulfilling. Me and my dad are so grateful that we had the right guys and the right team chemistry. You also have to have some luck involved, too, when you are in the playoffs. Everything just seemed to come together. We didn't want to lose in the end and to win with my dad is obviously so special."
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He spoke while wearing a hooded sweatshirt with a photo of his dad and the expression "March Madness at the Castle" centered across the front.
"I don't even know who made this," Andrew said with a smile. "They decided to put my dad's face as the guy dribbling. This was another cool thing for all the students to have. There are a lot of people wearing this and it is cool that my dad is on it."
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The city of Akron announced Wednesday that it is holding a parade at 2 p.m. Sunday to celebrate Akron's two state championship boys basketball teams: Hoban and Buchtel .
Hoban senior Andrew Griffith, center, cheers with his teammates during a pep rally celebrating the team's first state title since 1989 in the school's gym, Friday, March 24, 2023.
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"This run has been a lot of fun," Greer said. "This has been crazy."
The parade is set to be on Main Street, starting at Cedar and ending at Bowery. This marks the first time that multiple Akron boys basketball teams have won a state championship in the same season.
"It feels great to win," said Nichols, a junior, who wore the championship net around his neck Friday. "I want to go back-to-back. I am going to try my hardest again. I lose some of my guys [to graduation], but it feels great to win a state championship."
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Hoban graduates nine seniors from the title team: Scott, Vowles, Griffith, Lamar Sperling, Colin Coyne, Nate Korwin, Brody Franjesh, I'vante "Mookie" Barclay and Jayvian Crable.
Scott said some of his fondest memories from the season are the development of Greer and the team camaraderie.
"He is an awesome kid and he is a competitor," Scott said of Greer. "I will definitely remember building the team chemistry for my last year."
Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hoban boys basketball team celebrates its OHSAA state championship
