Margaretta dominates second half, rolls past Huron 72–30 in Division V district semifinal KANSAS, Ohio (AP) — Margaretta used a massive second-half surge to pull away from Huron and claim a 72–30 victory Tuesday night in a Division V boys basketball district semifinal at Lakota High School. The Polar Bears turned a competitive first half into a blowout with a decisive run that began late in the second quarter and carried into the third. After leading by only six points late in the half, Margaretta closed the second quarter with a 12–0 run to build momentum and a 37–19 halftime lead. Margaretta continued to pour it on after the break. The Polar Bears capitalized on a string of Huron turnovers and scored 25 unanswered points, stretching the lead to more than 40 points and putting the game out of reach early in the third quarter. Senior guard Julian Washington sparked the decisive stretch. After scoring eight points in the first half, Washington erupted early in the third quarter, scoring nine points in the opening minute-plus of the half. His burst included a three-pointer, a steal that led to a dunk, and another fast-break score as Margaretta turned defense into offense. The Polar Bears thrived in transition throughout the run, forcing mistakes and converting them into quick points on the other end. Margaretta’s balanced offense featured five players scoring in double figures. Tyson Bailey led the team with 18 points, while Washington added 17 points along with eight rebounds, seven assists, and five steals in an all-around performance. Kale Bailey and Judah Keller each scored 12 points, with Keller also contributing six assists. Keiygan Morris added 11 points, including three three-pointers, as the Polar Bears showcased their depth and unselfish play. Margaretta held a 21–12 lead after the first quarter, but Huron briefly kept the game within reach. The Tigers cut the deficit to 25–19 midway through the second quarter behind the play of Nixon Dike and Parker Schafer. From that point forward, however, Margaretta seized complete control. The Polar Bears ended the half on their scoring run and continued their surge immediately after halftime, overwhelming the Tigers with their speed and athleticism. Huron struggled to generate offense during the decisive stretch and finished the night with just six points in the third quarter and five in the fourth. Dike led the Tigers with 12 points, while Schafer contributed 11 points and eight rebounds. With the victory, Margaretta improved to 21–3 on the season and advanced to the Division V district championship game, where the Polar Bears will face Bluffton (11–13) on Friday night at Lakota High School. Huron concluded its season with a 10–14 record. Margaretta outscored the Tigers 29–6 in the third quarter, finishing the night with five three-pointers and controlling the game on both ends of the floor. Score by quarters: Huron — 12 7 6 5 — 30 Margaretta — 21 16 29 6 — 72 MARGARETTA (21-3) Kale Bailey 4 3-4 12, Keiygan Morris 4 0-0 11, Julian Washington 8 0-1 17, Judah Keller 6 0-0 12, Tyson Bailey 9 0-0 18, Tyler Johnson 1 0-0 2, Ayden Miller 0 2-2 2, AJ Walters 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 31 5-7 72 Margaretta 5 (Morris 3, K. Bailey, Washington) OH Report Plays of the Game: Click Here OH Report Highlights: Click Here