Boys’ Basketball Bows Out Against Lutheran West, 54-30, in D-II Regional Semifinals

The Central Catholic boys’ basketball team sustained a 54-30 loss against top-ranked Rocky River Lutheran West in the Division II regional semifinals on Thursday in the Stroh Center. With the neutral-court setback on the campus of Bowling Green State University, CCHS finishes its season with a 12-15 overall record.

The Longhorns (24-2) outscored the Fighting Irish 33-16 in the 2nd half to snap the Scarlet & Gray’s season-high 6-game winning streak.

Sophomore Manny Johnson led Central Catholic with 8 points, followed closely by senior Darnell Emery, Jr. with 7 points.

As a team, the Fighting Irish shot 33.3 percent (12-of-36) from the field, including 0-of-12 from 3-point range, and 50.0 percent (6-of-12) from the charity stripe.

Dylan Bartchak paced Lutheran West with a game-high 12 points, followed closely by Jayson Levis and Tino Yli-Junila with 10 points each.

The Longhorns connected on 51.3 percent (20-of-39) from the floor, including 40.0 percent (4-of-10) from beyond the arc, and 71.4 percent (10-of-14) from the free throw line.

Thursday’s game marked the final contest for CCHS’s 2-member senior class – Isaiah Brenneman and Darnell Emery, Jr.