FHS big, physical

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For the fourth consecutive season, the Wilmington High School boys basketball team will be playing in the sectional title game.

In each of the previous three seasons, the Hurricane advanced and the orange and black will get a chance to make it four in a row 7:30 p.m. Friday at Hamilton High School against the Fairfield Indians.

“They’ll be going for their four consecutive sectional title; they’ve won four consecutive conference titles … that’s a heck of a statement for these seniors,” WHS head coach Michael Noszka said.

Wilmington seniors are Jarron Cumberland, Alex Miller and Cameron Stewart.

Fairfield is 12-12 and “playing their best basketball at the end of the season,” Noszka said. The Indians defeated Northwest 41-34 in the tournament opener then knocked off Kings 62-57 Tuesday night.

A member of the Greater Miami Conference, the Indians limped into the tournament with three losses in their last four regular season games.

Mitchell Woods, a 6-4 forward, leads Fairfield at 19.5 points per game in the two tournament battles. Ben Phillips, a 6-6 forward, is averaging 10 points game in the post-season.

“They are big and physical,” Noszka said. “And they are athletic.”

Wilmington comes in at 23-1, losing only to Cincinnati Moeller 40-31.

Cumberland is averaging just a tick under 30 points a game and poured in 41 in the Hurricane’s 86-52 win Tuesday over Princeton.

The senior bound for the University of Cincinnati is averaging seven rebounds, just under four assists and right at four steals a game. He blocked four shots against the Vikings.

Stewart scores at 10 points a game and leads WHS with 100 assists in 20 games this season. Dylan Beaugard is third in scoring, third in assists and second in steals. Chris Wolary and Alex Miller give Wilmington a presence in the post, with Wolary at 6-6 and Miller at 6-4. Jeffrey Mansfield is the super-sub off the bench.

The winner of the Wilmington-Fairfield game will advance to one of four Southwest District championship games. The opponent will be either Mason, the overall No. 1 seed in the district at 22-1, or Middletown, who has knocked off higher seeds in winning two tournament games but was blown out by Wilmington during the regular season.

The district championship game will held March 5 at Wright State University. Game times for the four district title games are 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., but times for specific games has not been set yet.

Chris Wolary had 11 points in Wilmington’s 86-52 win over Princeton. The Hurricane will play Fairfield at Hamilton High School 7:30 p.m. Friday night.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/02/web1_DSC06447-3.jpgChris Wolary had 11 points in Wilmington’s 86-52 win over Princeton. The Hurricane will play Fairfield at Hamilton High School 7:30 p.m. Friday night. Mark Huber | News Journal

By Mark Huber

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Reach Mark Huber at 937-556-5765, or on Twitter @wnjsports.

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