FAIRFIELD TWP. — Cincinnati Christian’s boys basketball team relinquished an eight-point lead in the final 3 minutes before falling to CHCA 47-46 on Friday.
The Cougars (16-6, 7-3 MVC) were aiming for at least a share of a sixth straight Miami Valley Conference title.
CHCA (20-2), which claimed the MVC Scarlet title outright, has now won 18 in a row.
“We just didn’t execute and take care of the ball,” CCS coach Carl Woods said. “We got a little comfortable there and a little too lackadaisical at the end once we got the lead. They ended up grinding it out on us.
“This is tough knowing that we had it right there in our hands,” Woods added. “A team of our caliber should close it out and execute and finish a game. We just didn’t do a good job of that tonight.”
CCS took a 21-20 lead into the halftime break. The Cougars led 38-31 after three quarters.
Leading the way for the Cougars was KJ Swain, who notched 10 points.
Cincinnati Christian opens up Division IV tourney play against SCPA on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2:30 p.m. at Taylor.
Other action around the county from Friday night:
BADIN 58, ALTER 52 — RECAP HERE
ROSS 65, TALAWANDA 62 — It took double overtime for the Rams to knock off the Brave. Ross moved its record to 15-6, 7-5 SWOC. Talawanda, which faces Princeton in the Division I postseason tourney on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Hamilton, finished the regular season at 6-16, 2-10. The Rams travel to Madison tonight to wrap up the regular season.
MOUNT HEALTHY 66, EDGEWOOD 41 — The Cougars fell short of claiming at least a share of the SWOC title. Edgewood finished the regular season at 16-6. The Cougars play Harrison on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Hamilton to start postseason play in DI.
LAKOTA EAST 64, LAKOTA WEST 57 — The GMC champion Thunderhawks (20-2) closed the regular season out winning 11 straight games. The Firebirds slipped to 11-11. Lakota East plays Kings on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. at Lakota West in DI tourney action, while Lakota West plays Loveland on Friday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. at Hamilton.
MIDDLETOWN 59, PRINCETON 53 — The Middies pulled off an impressive victory over the Vikings. The win moved Middletown to 7-15. The Middies play the Oak Hills-Sycamore winner on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. at Lakota West in the DI tourney.
HAMILTON 55, OAK HILLS 43 — Big Blue has won 5 in a row and finished the regular season at 16-6, good for third in the GMC. Hamilton plays rival Fairfield on Friday. Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. at Lakota West to kick off tourney action.
MASON 75, FAIRFIELD 58 — The Indians finished the regular season at 7-15. Fairfield has lost 5 out of its last 6 games heading into tourney play.
NEW MIAMI 68, ST. BERNARD 48 — The Vikings have won 7 out of their last 8 games. New Miami finished the regular season at 17-5. The Vikings play Felicity-Franklin on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 4 p.m. at Taylor
MADISON 80, WAYNESVILLE 68 — The Mohawks clinched the Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division title outright with its win over the Spartans. Madison moved to 19-2 overall, 10-2 SWBL. The Mohawks host Ross tonight at 7 p.m. to close out their regular season.
MONROE 52, BELLBROOK 50 — It took overtime for the Hornets to knock off its SWBL rival. Monroe finished the regular season 14-8, 9-3 SWBL. The Hornets face Taylor next Saturday in the Division II postseason tourney at 3 p.m. at Mason. PHOTO GALLERY HERE