Columbus Academy boys basketball falls short of repeat state run after regional semifinal defeat

What happened in the 2026 postseason

Columbus Academy’s attempt to return to the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) boys basketball state tournament ended in the Division V regional round on March 4, 2026, with a 62-57 loss to Ottawa-Glandorf in a regional semifinal played in Mansfield.

Ottawa-Glandorf closed the game with a decisive fourth-quarter push, outscoring Columbus Academy 22-13 in the final period to erase a late deficit and advance in the state tournament. Karsyn Erford led all scorers with 29 points for Ottawa-Glandorf.

How this compares with Columbus Academy’s most recent state appearance

The loss marked a different finish from a year earlier, when Columbus Academy reached the Division V state championship game in Dayton. In the 2025 title game, Columbus Academy lost 53-49 to Cleveland Heights Lutheran East, which completed a third consecutive state championship season.

That 2025 run represented one of the program’s most significant postseason achievements, ending with a state runner-up finish and reinforcing Columbus Academy’s position among the most competitive programs in its division at the time.

What the outcome means for the Division V bracket

With Columbus Academy eliminated in the regional semifinal, Ottawa-Glandorf moved forward on the Division V path that leads to the state semifinals and the championship weekend format used by the OHSAA. The regional stage remains a critical threshold in Ohio’s tournament structure, separating district champions from the limited group that earns a place in the state’s final rounds.

• Columbus Academy’s 2026 postseason ended in the Division V regional semifinals.
• Ottawa-Glandorf advanced after a fourth-quarter rally and a 29-point performance from Erford.
• In 2025, Columbus Academy reached the Division V state final before falling by four points.

Key takeaways from the regional semifinal

The regional semifinal underscored how late-game execution can decide postseason outcomes. Ottawa-Glandorf’s scoring surge in the fourth quarter shifted control in a game that remained within reach into the final minutes. For Columbus Academy, the result closed the season short of the program’s most recent postseason benchmark: a return trip to the state tournament floor in Dayton.

Final score (Division V regional semifinal, March 4, 2026): Ottawa-Glandorf 62, Columbus Academy 57.