Cleveland Heights Tigers upset St. Ignatius in district finals

Tigers secure first regional appearance since 2022 with 56-49 win

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Cleveland Heights Tigers secured a 56-49 upset victory over the favored St. Ignatius Wildcats in the OHSAA Division I boys basketball district finals. Critical fourth-quarter plays, including go-ahead baskets from Jhayce Boyd and a pivotal 3-pointer from Noah Blue, helped the Tigers seal the win. Cleveland Heights outrebounded St. Ignatius 44-32, including 22 offensive rebounds, which propelled them in the fourth quarter to deny the Wildcats, who reached last year's state final four.

Why it matters

This upset win marks the first regional appearance for the Cleveland Heights Tigers since 2022, showcasing their ability to compete against a top-ranked program like St. Ignatius. The game highlights the competitive nature of Ohio high school basketball and the importance of strong rebounding and late-game execution in determining the outcome of close matchups.

The details

The Cleveland Heights Tigers, led by Jhayce Boyd and Noah Blue, were able to outrebound the St. Ignatius Wildcats 44-32, including 22 offensive rebounds, which proved crucial in the fourth quarter. Boyd and Blue made key plays down the stretch, with Boyd hitting go-ahead baskets and Blue knocking down a pivotal 3-pointer to seal the 56-49 victory for the Tigers.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 8, 2026.

The players

Jhayce Boyd

A player for the Cleveland Heights Tigers who made key plays down the stretch to help secure the upset victory.

Noah Blue

A player for the Cleveland Heights Tigers who scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, including a crucial 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.

St. Ignatius Wildcats

The favored team that was upset by the Cleveland Heights Tigers, having reached the state final four the previous year.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

This upset victory for the Cleveland Heights Tigers showcases the competitive nature of Ohio high school basketball and the importance of strong rebounding and late-game execution in determining the outcome of close matchups. The Tigers' ability to outrebound and make critical plays down the stretch against a top-ranked program like St. Ignatius is a testament to their resilience and determination.