Khoi Thurmon helps lead Buchtel to OHSAA boys basketball district title on 18th birthday

STOW — Buchtel guard Khoi Thurmon celebrated his 18th birthday Saturday night in style.

The senior keyed a decisive run to open the game as the Griffins rolled to a Division II boys basketball district championship.

“Khoi scored 18 points on his 18th birthday,” Buchtel coach Rayshon Dent said with a smile after watching his team defeat Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph 70-44 and receive a district championship trophy at Stow’s James G. Tyree Gymnasium.

The Griffins (19-6) advanced to play Youngstown Chaney in a regional semifinal at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Canton Memorial Civic Center.

Senior Marcel Boyce Jr. led Buchtel with 22 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Boyce and fellow senior Tajh Poole were the first two players to trim a portion of the nets from the baskets as a keepsake.

Thurmon added four rebounds and four assists. Senior Amire Robinson finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks.

“It definitely feels good to win this district final because we fell short in this same position last year,” said Robinson, a 6-foot-2 University of Nevada basketball recruit. “It definitely feels good that we bounced back.”

Buchtel jumped out to a 20-0 lead with 2:09 remaining in the first quarter. Thurmon scored nine points during Buchtel’s fast start and Boyce had six points.

“That 20-0 start, well we just came out with the same energy we had all week at practice and we had last game [against Bay Village Bay],” said Boyce, a Wayne State University football recruit.

“We are playing defense, swinging the ball around and everybody is making shots. ... We need to stay locked in, stay focused and take one game at a time.”

VA-SJ committed 10 turnovers and six fouls before junior Quandell Wright dropped in a layup with 1:23 to go in the first quarter.

“We knew they were a solid team,” Vikings coach Ashen Ward said of Buchtel. “They have got size, they have got athleticism and we tried to match it. In that first quarter, it didn’t help that we couldn’t put the ball in the basket. Defensively, we have got to be stronger. I think that is what we learned and we can take away from this game to help us moving forward.”

The Griffins led 21-2 at the end of the first quarter, 34-14 at halftime and 56-30 through three quarters.

Wright scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to pace VA-SJ (11-15).

“We knew that VA-SJ was a strong interior defensive team and they rebounded really well,” Dent said. “One thing I wanted to reiterate to our guys was that we had to meet force with force. We had to be able to control the boards and then we could get into our transition game. It seemed like that worked out for us early on.

“Also, we did a good job of controlling the ball and causing turnovers. ... They have a young team and they are talented.”

Buchtel sophomore Stevie Diamond and junior Dakota Taylor each had six points and four rebounds. Griffins junior Diaire Pride Jr. was also active with two points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Buchtel committed 13 turnovers and forced VASJ into 30 turnovers.

“We are bringing a lot of energy as a team,” said Thurmon, a 6-foot-2 Purdue University Fort Wayne basketball recruit.

“We have been locked in and we are getting a lot of energy off of our bench as well. Everybody is playing their role and we are understanding the game.”

Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Buchtel dominants VASJ to win OHSAA basketball district championship