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Stevie Diamond and Buchtel enjoy perch atop Akron City Series boys basketball standings
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- Stevie Diamond and Buchtel enjoy perch atop Akron City Series boys basketball standings
Stevie Diamond is the lone remaining starter from the Buchtel boys basketball team that won the Division II state championship in 2023 .
Almost two years have passed since Buchtel players, coaches and fans were jumping for joy at the University of Dayton Arena .
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Could they hoist another trophy at UD in March ?
Buchtel's Moustapha Ndao (23), Diaire Pride Jr., (0) and Stevie Diamond (11) celebrate after beating Garfield in the City Series championship, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024.
There is no shortage of talent once again this season as Buchtel (10-4, 6-0) is atop the City Series standings after a 57-52 win over host Garfield (8-4, 5-1) on Jan. 10 and a 73-46 home win over Firestone (1-11, 1-5) on Jan. 14.
Diamond, now a 6-foot-2 senior guard, is a leader on a team with a mixture of several returnees from last season's Division II district semifinal squad and talented transfers Isaiah McCray, Chris Powell, Gregory Bodine III and Knekose Mack Jr.
"It has been fun playing with these guys," Diamond said on Dec. 6 after after scoring 19 points in a 80-39 win at Firestone. "Everybody is trying to catch onto each other's rhythm and build chemistry off of it."
Buchtel guard Stevie Diamond, top, blocks the shot of Lutheran West guard Derek Fairley during the first half of the OHSAA Division II state final, Sunday, March 19, 2023, in Dayton.
Buchtel's starting five of Diamond and 2013 graduates Khoi Thurmon, Amire Robinson, Marcel Boyce Jr. and Jayden Maxwell played with great chemistry to win a state title .
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The Griffins made a Division II district semifinal appearance last season with Diamond and fellow current senior Demetrice Coates starting alongside 2024 graduates Diaire Pride Jr., Qi'Marreon Marks and Dakota Taylor .
Buchtel boys basketball players, from left, Demetrice Coates, Stevie Diamond, Isaiah McCray, Chris Powell and Ta'Shawn Thomas after a win at Firestone on Dec. 6, 2024.
Chris Powell and Isaiah McCray lead Buchtel boys basketball in scoring this season
Powell, a 6-3 junior guard, is Buchtel's leading scorer, averaging around 20 points, four rebounds and three assists after playing last season at Westminster School in Simsbury, Connecticut.
"It has been great playing with these guys," Powell said after scoring 25 points in the win at Firestone. "Going at it with these guys everyday in practice, bumping heads and really learning these guys as a whole has been great. I am new here, so it has really been fun getting to know them, talking to them everyday and getting on that court and competing with them."
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McCray, a 5-11 senior guard, is averaging around 15 points, four rebounds and three assists after playing last season at Youngstown East.
"It has been cool playing in a new environment and with new people," McCray said after scoring 15 points in the win at Firestone. "I love playing this sport, so being able to play with these players that can all play, it feels great. We are looking to get a lot of wins this season."
Buchtel's other top wins in Ohio are over Newark (66-61), Ellet (84-53), East (83-38) and Dayton Dunbar (76-65 in OT).
The Griffins went 2-2 in the Jerry Tarkanian Classic before Christmas at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, Nevada, with wins over Portland Roosevelt (Oregon) 75-50 and Oakland Bishop O'Dowd (California) 59-49 and losses to Las Vegas Democracy Prep Agassi 59-57 and Modesto Christian (California) 58-57.
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"We were moving the ball well and doing everything as one in Vegas," McCray said after the win over Garfield. "Since we left, some things started to break apart. We have to fix that."
Buchtel’s Demetrice Coates goes up past Glenville’s Ruel Tomlinson in last year's district semifinal won by the Tarblooders at Louisville High School.
Buchtel seeks more Akron City Series boys basketball championships
Buchtel coach Rayshon Dent said "the trip out west was a bonding experience" for the Griffins, who have won six out of the past seven City Series regular season championships and six league postseason final titles in a row.
McCray and Powell scored 14 points apiece in the win over Garfield, senior Ta'Shawn Thomas scored 10 points, Bodine contributed nine points and Diamond had eight points. McCray scored 25 points in the second win over Firestone.
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"We just play hard," Thomas said. "I love competing and the rest of these guys show that they love competing their hardest, too. We are all bonding as a team and getting to know each other, and that is what is making us a better team."
Diamond is averaging around 11 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Buchtel's Stevie Diamond shoots a 3-pointer over Bishop Ready's Kaleb Schaffer during the first half of a Division II state semifinal, Friday, March 17, 2023, in Dayton.
Bodine, who played at University Prep in Rochester, New York, last season, is contributing about 10 points, four rebounds and two assists per game.
"Everything is going well with our team," Bodine said. "Off the court, we are really bonding together. That is a plus right there. On the court, we gotta play better. ... We gotta take care of business."
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Thomas is averaging about seven points and four rebounds and Coates is averaging about four points, four rebounds and two assists.
"I like how we shoot the ball and drive to the basket," Coates said. "I think when we connect on defense all the way we are going to be very dangerous."
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Buchtel remains atop Akron City Series boys basketball standings
