Buchtel takes Akron City Series regular-season title, rematch next after 62-55 win at Ellet

AKRON, Ohio — Jonathan King knows what a regular-season sweep of Akron City Series-rival Ellet means: a rematch Friday in the league's championship game.

That is what happened last year, when King led Buchtel to the City Series title through the regular season. The Griffins beat Ellet twice, only to drop the championship game — a matchup of the top two teams — to the Orangemen.

King, now a 6-foot-5 senior, faces the same challenge after Buchtel wrapped up first place Tuesday at Ellet with a 62-55 victory.

"I learned it's hard to beat a team three times," said King, the reigning City Series Player of the Year. "We've got to be tough, physical and not back down. You have to be ready every moment of the game and not think you have the game in the bag."

King and the Griffins (12-7, 10-0 City Series) will take that mindset Friday to Firestone High School in Akron for one more matchup with the Orangemen (11-6, 8-2). They will play as part of a boys-girls championship doubleheader.

Ellet won the championship game each of the last two years. King and Co. will try to end that streak with a cast that includes 6-5 freshman sensation Chris Livingston and a lineup of mostly underclassmen around them. Livingston scored a team-high 24 points Tuesday, while King had 19 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

They pushed Buchtel ahead with a strong second quarter that included Livingston finding King on an open 3-pointer, and King following with a two-handed slam dunk that brought his teammates to their feet.

Ellet, which was paced by senior Jarmond Hogg with 20 points, rallied in the third quarter and pulled even at 30-all. Buchtel pulled away and committed only two turnovers during a second-half stretch that lasted until midway through the fourth quarter.

The Griffins' lead grew to 12 points until one more late Ellet rally.

"I think we played tough," Livingston said. "We did a lot of rebounding and played the best defense we've played this year."

Sophomore forward Noah Peeples led that rebounding effort with 13 boards.

"He's been doing it all year," coach Matt Futch said. "You can almost take him for granted. He's going to come in, get on the court, work hard and do all of the things he needs to do."

So much attention goes to Livingston, regarded among the top freshmen in the country, let alone Ohio. Not only is he new to the Buchtel program this season, but so is Peeples, who transferred from St. Vincent-St. Mary.

"We don't praise him enough for what he does for us," Futch said. "He's kind of the glue guy for our team."

The potential around Futch and King give Buchtel reason it can contend, not only for Friday's City Series championship but a deep postseason run in Division II.

Buchtel's additions are big, but so is King's steady play as an inside-outside threat on offense and a fierce defender.

"He's been a leader on the court and off the court," Livingston said. "He leads us by doing stuff, not by talking but he does his job on the court."

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