Northland defeats South, 63-46, for back-to-back City League titles

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- After all the attention on the team that wasn't able to play for a championship this weekend, Northland proved it does belong. The Vikings returned to the top of the City League after handing South its first league loss of the season.

Northland defeated the Bulldogs, 63-46, to capture back-to-back City championships at East High School on Saturday.

"We got every kind of player on this team," junior forward Nehemiah McMorris said. "Dunkers. Shooters. Ball handlers, passers. We got everything on this team."

The Vikings were able to play in Saturday's final after North Division champion, Linden-McKinley, was ruled ineligible to play for a championship due to a scheduling oversight that resulted in the Panthers playing in too many games during the regular season. OHSAA rules state teams can play in a maximum of 22 contests and the City League final would have been Linden's 23rd of the year.

Northland assistant coach Leo Cleary-Foeller said the attention on Linden was a motivation for the Vikings.

"Shout out to Linden, they had an amazing year. Shout out to their staff and their kids. They got a great group of kids. They've got a special team," Cleary-Foeller said. "But we just believed from the beginning of the year that we were supposed to be here and we showed that today."

Head coach Tihon Johnson said it's not easy for a team to win back-to-back titles in the City League.

"You get everybody's best shot and that's what happened to us all throughout the year. Linden had a great game and they beat us," Johnson said. "But it also makes you tough. So you know you're getting everyone's best shot so we have to bring our best shot."