DAYTON — No matter the arena or the opponent, Kettering Alter can shoot the lights out.
R.J. Greer scored a game-high 24 points as the Knights thumped Youngstown Ursuline 73-37 in the first of two Division II state semifinals Saturday afternoon inside the University of Dayton Arena.
Alter (22-7) connected on 28-of-45 field goal attempts, including 9-of-19 3-pointers. The Knights drained 14 treys in their regional final win over Cincinnati Wyoming and nine triples in a regional semifinal win over Jonathan Alder.
“We hit a lot of shots today,” Alter coach Eric Coulter said. “I couldn’t be more proud of how our team played.”
The Knights blew out to a 20-4 first-quarter lead, before Ursuline (24-4) trimmed the deficit to 33-22 at the half. Alter dominated the third quarter, knocking down 11-of-15 floor shots in the frame and opening a 62-33 advantage. The game was played with a running clock for the final half of the fourth quarter.
Joe Brand backed Greer with 17 points. Brady Conner added 10.
Jaylen Gunther and Jaden Payne scored 11 points apiece to pace the Irish.
Alter will play either Shelby or Maysville in Sunday’s Division II championship game. The Knights are in search of a fourth state title after winning it all in 1978, 1999 and 2001. Alter last reached the Final Four in 2022.