Thompson’s comments were partially accurate, in that it was a close game. Solon came from behind to beat the Bearcats for a 62-60 win to put them into the Regional Semifinals. However no battle was put up for Lauderdale scoring 21 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and blocking 6 shots.

The All-Ohio center must have had something up his sleeve for Bedford because he responded to the comments of his summertime teammate: “No, no, no, Jason does not know my game, he has played with me, but he has never played against me.”

Lauderdale backed up his comments with another great game eliminating Bedford from the playoffs, and enabling them to three-peat as District Champions.

With the Cleveland South Gymnasium filled at 1600 in attendance and a standing room only crowd No. 2 seeded Bedford and No. 1 seeded Solon both came out shooting, and when Bedford took a 10-5 lead early on a Charles Osby three-pointer, Lauderdale got his first points of the night down low in the paint with a smooth lay in. Following a nice steal by Solon senior Billy Grant with a lay up off the glass, which made Bedford coach Everett Heard call a timeout with 1:50 left in the first quarter. With Bedford draining another three before the end of the first quarter, Solon tied the score at 15-15 with yet another Lauderdale lay up at then end of the first quarter.

Though Bedford got a tip in by Jason Thompson at the beginning of the second quarter it was evident that Lauderdale’s defense would pose problems for the Bearcats all night long not only by blocking shots, but having them re-directed by his shifting presence. At 4:55 in the 2nd quarter Bedford senior center Skylaar Constant, a Wisconsin football recruit, got his eighth point of the night on a free throw and Bedford held a 22-17 lead causing Solon coach Todd Van Reeth to call a timeout. Before the game Van Reeth felt Lauderdale had an athletic advantage over the 6-4, 280 pound Constant, but early on the future Badger gave him problems. After Solon climbed closer into the ball game, on a jump-shot off the glass by Grant, Bedford senior Donzelle Moore stole the ball from Solon senior Steve Valentino and had a break away one handed dunk extending Bedford’s lead to 26-21 with 3 minutes to play.

Lauderdale answered Moore’s dunk with a two handed monster jam with less than two minutes to play with Solon still trailing 26-23. Coming down the floor Bedford could not find an open jump shot with Lauderdale blocking three shots in a row, and when finally Moore hit a 16-footer, Grant answered with a three-pointer to end the first half with Bedford leading 28-26.

As the second half began Bedford continued to hurt Solon with their three point shooting by Anthony Lumpkin and Reggie Byarse, while Lauderdale hurt the Bearcats inside with two more dunks, followed by a lay up with Solon still behind Bedford 35-32 with 4:55 remaining in the 3rd quarter, Lauderdale was poked in the eye and had to sit for a couple minutes for the Comets. Another three-pointer by Byarse was answered right away by Solon senior Patrick Hewitt as the third quarter came to an end with Bedford still leading Solon 43-39.

Solon fans remained upbeat despite their team not leading since the first quarter, and Solon junior guard Anthony Burns dispelled the negative thoughts away hitting two deep three pointers putting the Comets in the lead 47-45 with 6:20 left to play. As Solon was brought back to life by Burns, he extended the lead by one more point at 4:40 with a tear drop floater giving Solon a 50-47 lead. However, on the Bearcats next possession Moore hit a three-pointer tying the score at 50-50 with 4:20 left to play. Solon got a huge boost down the stretch, after Hewitt missed the back end of a one-and-one and Lauderdale followed up with a monster dunk giving the Comets yet again a three point lead 53-50 with 3:10 to play in the 4th quarter.

At 2:31 Constant fouled out and Lauderdale was able to convert on the front end of the one-and-one giving the Comets a 54-52 lead. However a 12-foot jumper by Lumpkin, followed by a three-pointer by Moore gave Bedford the lead once again 57-54 with 1:20 left in the ball game. Burns had an answer for Moore with 40 seconds left when he had a nice lay in off the glass pulling Solon within one point of the Bearcats 59-58. Solon had to put Bedford at the foul line, and Hewitt fouled Moore who missed the front end of a one-and-one with just 25 seconds remaining and Bedford up by a point.

Going for the rebound on the missed free throw Lauderdale was fouled and was put on the charity stripe for two foul shots. The All-Ohio center made both giving Solon a one point lead 60-59. Solon regained possession on a rebound off a Bedford miss, and Hewitt was put at the line. Hewitt an 86% free throw shooter converted on both and put Solon ahead 62-59 with 7 seconds remaining. Valentino wisely fouled Lumpkin coming down court putting him at the line with 1.2 seconds remaining. Lumpkin made the first but intentionally missed the second however Bedford was unable to get a shot off and Solon won the District Finals 62-60.

Solon will now play the Mentor Cardinals on Thursday at Akron Rhodes Arena in the Regional Semi-Finals at 7 p.m. Solon beat Mentor earlier in the year at Mentor in double overtime. Mentor is lead by 6-7 senior Holy Cross recruit Adam May. The winner will play the winner of the Barberton-Canton McKinley game. A possible match up of Solon and McKinley would mean Lauderdale could face Michigan State recruit Raymar Morgan.