SATURDAY ACTION, boys basketball: Dublin Scioto 68, Newark 52

Published: Saturday, March 14, 2009 4:26 PM EDT

On the way now to a second straight Division I regional bracket, second-seeded Dublin Scioto (23-1) overpowered defending Ohio champion and fourth-seeded Newark (20-4) by a final of 68-52 in a district title showdown at the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum Saturday, March 14.

Riding a 19-game winning streak, the Irish streaked in front 10-0 after only two minutes of action and never trailed against the Wildcats before a packed house. Scioto guard Bradley McDougald exploded for a career-high 28 points in the win, including 17 in the first half as the Irish built a 36-25 lead.

Scioto shot an astonishing 68 percent from the field against the normally stingy Wildcats and many looks were of the easy variety inside. Moreover, the Irish made seven of eight attempts beyond the arc and always seemed to have an answer for any slight Newark spurt. Although the Wildcats managed to whittle the deficit down to eight points at several junctures in the fourth quarter, the Irish eventually pulled away and led by as many as 17 in the latter stages.

--BRIAN INGLIS