Lockland’s first state basketball tournament appearance since 1937 ended in a 61-58 loss to South Webster in the boys’ Division IV semifinals on Thursday before 12,372 fans at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

The tenth-ranked Panthers (23-4) were in a tight battle with No. 3 South Webster (25-2) in a game that featured seven ties and eight led changes.  Neither team lead by more than six points. 

Lockland led 28-24 halftime and South Webster did not pull ahead until Brigham Wagoner scored on a 3-pointer with 4:55 left in the game for a 49-48 lead.  South Webster led by as much as three points four times in the final three minutes until two free throws by Lockland senior Dajuan Harris with 50 seconds left in the game cut the South Webster lead to 56-55.

Lockland would get within one point again at 59-58 with 18 seconds left on a 3-pointer by Sheldon Johnson but two free throws by South Webster’s Jordan Lower with 12 seconds left iced the game.

Harris turned in a double-double performance for Lockland with a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds.  Mack Ogletree (16) and Antoine Wilhite (12) were also in double figures for the Panthers.  Lockland shot 44.9 percent from the field for the game and out-rebounded South Webster 36-27.  Nick Aldridge scored 21 points for South Webster.