XENIA – The Arcanum Trojans dropped a 60-44 district championship game to the No. 1 seed Waynesville Spartans. Waynesville brought a 22-2 record into the contest while the Trojans entered the game at 18-5 on the season.
Arcanum bolted out to an early 10-0 lead, starting with a Ben Hamilton 3-pointer from the top of the key, followed by a basket at the rim. Matthew McCans added a three, and Cameron Ball scored on a layup from the right side, forcing a Waynesville timeout with 3:34 remaining in the first quarter.
Waynesville answered with two treys to close out first quarter scoring, cutting the Arcanum lead to 10-6.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better way to start up against a team like this,” said Arcanum coach Kevin Brackman. “For us to play those first ten points the way we did and force them to take their first timeout — we were hoping to use that momentum a little longer. But we made that first half a grind game, which was our goal.”
Ball gave the Trojans a 12-6 lead ten seconds into the second period. With the teams trading baskets, Arcanum maintained a six-point cushion, leading 14-8, and later held a 15-12 advantage.
A Spartans three-pointer tied the game at 15-15, and the teams were knotted again at 18-18 with one minute to play in the half. Waynesville took advantage of a free throw in the closing seconds to send the teams to the break with Arcanum trailing by one, 19-18.
Waynesville’s smothering full-court pressure created problems for the Trojans in the third quarter as the Spartans pushed their lead to double digits at 33-22. Waynesville outscored Arcanum 24-12 in the period to take a 43-30 advantage heading into the final quarter.
“I just felt like we needed to get back in transition, we needed to make sure we rebounded, and we had to handle their pressure,” Brackman said. “In the third quarter, those things kind of went to the wayside.”
Playing in their first district title game since 2008, the Trojans battled in the fourth quarter with Waynesville taking the final period 17-14 to secure the district championship.
Arcanum seniors playing their final game for the Orange and Black included No. 3 Matthew McCans, No. 11 Charlie Weiss, No. 13 Dane Byers, No. 22 Cole Kessler, and No. 23 Cameron Ball.
“These five seniors have earned this opportunity and this experience, and I am happy to be their coach,” Brackman said. “This opportunity is not just given out — you have to earn it.”
Brackman also praised the contributions of his senior class.
“You could use a lot of words to describe Cameron Ball and the way he plays,” Brackman said. “Just to watch him and his ability to elevate. Matthew McCans has been a dead-eye shooter for us — maybe one of the best shooters in Darke County the last two years from a three-point perspective — but he’s also a tough kid not afraid to go in there and make a play.”
“Cole Kessler has been a leader for us. I can’t say enough good things about Cole. With Ben coming in his role changed, so we brought him off the bench, and he couldn’t have been a better teammate. Charlie Weiss, as we refer to him, is our water bug — he’s everywhere. He can get to the rim and knock down shots. Dane Byers just loves being in the gym and loves being around those guys.”
Brackman also reflected on the future of the Arcanum boys’ basketball program.
“This is what we hope becomes the new normal,” Brackman said of Arcanum reaching its first district title game since 2008. “We’re excited about our freshman team and our JV program. Our JV team had a great year, finishing 19-3. We’re soaking this opportunity in, grateful to be here, and hopefully we can keep something like this going.”
Cameron Ball led Arcanum and all scorers with a game-high 17 points.
In the early game, the Versailles Tigers knocked off the previously undefeated Williamsburg Wildcats 64-46 and will now face the 23-2 Waynesville Spartans in the regional semifinal.
“When they go on runs, they go on runs,” Brackman said. “So for all the Versailles people — when they go on runs, they go on runs. I have no doubt Coach Swank is cooking something up for them, and I’m looking forward to that matchup.”
BOX SCORE:
WAYNESVILLE 60, ARCANUM 44
WAYNESVILLE – L. Rocha 13, R. Barrett 11, A. Stupp, T. Rutledge 8, E. Sesslar 8, B. Post 6, G. Armstrong 4 – TOTALS 17 5-10 7 60
ARCANUM – C. Ball 17, M. McCans 9, B. Hamilton 9, C. Weiss 7, C. Kessler 2 – TOTALS 10 12-15 4 44
3-POINTERS
Waynesville 7 (R.Rocha 2, A. Stupp 2, E. Sesslar 2, G. Armstrong 1)
Arcanum 4 (M. McCans 2, C. Weiss 1, B. Hamilton 1)
SCORE by QUARTERS
06-13-24-17 60 Waynesville
10-08-12-14 44 Arcanum
