CINCINNATI — Only one school from southwest Ohio is featured in this weekend’s OHSAA boys' basketball state championship games and it’s a team that’s never been to a title game in school history.
At Aiken High School, this boys’ basketball team is preparing for something that’s never been done
“It means a lot to Aiken, the Aiken family, the Aiken basketball community because, you know, a couple years ago, we weren’t here,” said senior Jaiden Arnold. “Nobody really knew who we were.”
The Falcons will be competing in its first-ever state championship game. As a Cincinnati Public School, it’s a pretty incredible accomplishment.
“It’s just a phenomenal feat,” head coach Derrell Black said. “You know, we traditionally don’t send teams from CPS to the state final. So when you get a chance to go compete for one is a big thing. It’s a big deal.”
Black took over the program three seasons ago. In his first year, his team was winless in the conference. The next, they won the conference. This year, they’re competing for a state championship.
“A lot of them didn't have, like, the amateur careers of like AAU growing up as being superstars," Black said. "Now they get a chance to go out here and have all eyes on them and represent the city and the region and southwest Ohio as a whole.”
It’s something Arnold still can’t believe.
“I wouldn't believe I would be where I'm at, you know, just playing for a state title," Arnold said. "That was always my dream because I always looked up to high school players like, I don't want to say, championship. Like, I was just always saying, like, could that be me? My pops instilled in me, like, you know, that could be you out there. And I just never thought, like, in a full circle moment that it'd be me.”
Now, the message is to go win it all.
“You win a state championship, there’s no debate on who the best Aiken team is," Black said during a team huddle. "There’s no debate now. They’ve never been here before, nobody. That team on the wall, they went to the Final Four, we already surpassed that. You’re already the best team. Now, you’re getting something for yourself that’s going to be forever.”
And represent southwest Ohio the best way they can.
“You get a lot of support from other schools, other coaches, guys you compete against every Tuesday and Friday night texting you, saying, good luck, go get it done for the city," Black said. "Even some teams from Dayton saying do it for southwest Ohio. It's like once you make it this far, you start to feel the support from your region.”
