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The Zane Trace Pioneers boys basketball team is headed back to the regional tournament, but this year as Division 3 Champs. Last year, the Pioneers went to the Sweet 16 as Division 2 Champs.
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Zane Trace advanced to the March 11th Regional Semis vs World Harvest Prep, with a 51-41 win over the Ironton Tigers Friday at the OU Convocation Center. Defending state champ Harvest Prep had to rally to beat Worthington Christian 49-47 for the Central District title. Their meeting with Zane Trace will be 6:15pm Wednesday at The Convo, with 94 Country WKKJ airtime at 6pm.
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The Pioneers, who had beaten Ironton in a February regular season game, had to overcome early turnovers and missed free throws, to pull off the win. Zane Trace was helped greatly by 63% shooting from the field, going 19/31- including 1/3 from the arc. ZT was only 11/21 at the foul line and finished with 10 turnovers and 19 rebounds.
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Ironton was 13/36 from the floor for just 36%- including 3/13 from the arc and added 12/13 from the free throw line. The Tigers also had 19 rebounds and committed 8 turnovers.
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ZT led at the end of each quarter, 13-9, 23-20, 33-26 and the final of 51-41. Trailing 37-30 in the fourth quarter, Ironton got to withing 37-35, before the Pioneers put the game away.
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Zane Trace's Nick Nesser led the charge with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Cam Evans added 15 points, Colby Swain 6, Nalin Robinson and Triton Davidson both with 4 points and 1 each from Luke Johnson and Ben Nichols. Robinson was pressed into service for most of the second half when Davidson went to the bench with four fouls, then later fouling out.
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Reid Carrico led the Tigers with 18 points and 9 rebounds.
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The Pioneers improve to (22-3), while Ironton closed their season at (13-11).
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Listen to the WKKJ replay with Mike Smith and Tom Beard on our podcast link below...