Cleveland Heights boys basketball reaches Sweet 16 again under coach J.R. Bremer

The Tigers are in the regional semifinals for the second time in five seasons, led by a mix of experienced seniors and promising underclassmen.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Cleveland Heights' boys basketball team has reached the Sweet 16 for the second time in five years under head coach J.R. Bremer, who played for the school and went on to the NBA. The Tigers, led by a group of experienced seniors and talented underclassmen, upset St. Ignatius in the district finals to advance to the regional semifinals, where they will face St. Edward. Bremer has molded the program back into a contender after nearly two decades without a Sweet 16 appearance.

Why it matters

Cleveland Heights' return to the regional semifinals is a testament to Bremer's ability to build a winning program at his alma mater. The Tigers' mix of veteran leadership and young talent suggests they could continue to be a force in the coming years, potentially making another Cinderella run in the state tournament.

The details

After falling short in the district finals against St. Edward last year, Cleveland Heights has surged late in the season, winning six of its last seven games. The Tigers' discipline and effort on the boards, including 22 offensive rebounds, were key in the upset of St. Ignatius. Senior forward Noah Blue led the way with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while sophomore Messiah Williams provided a boost with eight rebounds in his third straight start.

  • Cleveland Heights last reached the Sweet 16 in 2002, nearly two decades ago.
  • The Tigers made their first regional semifinal appearance under Bremer in 2022.
  • Cleveland Heights will face St. Edward on Wednesday, March 13, 2026 at the University of Akron's James A. Rhodes Arena.

The players

J.R. Bremer

The head coach of the Cleveland Heights boys basketball team, who played for the school and went on to a professional career in the NBA and overseas.

Noah Blue

A senior forward for Cleveland Heights who scored a game-high 19 points with 10 rebounds in the district final win over St. Ignatius.

Jhayce Boyd

The senior point guard for Cleveland Heights, who has been with the program since middle school under Bremer's guidance.

Messiah Williams

A sophomore who has started the last three games for Cleveland Heights, providing a boost on the boards with eight rebounds in the district final.

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What they’re saying

“We've been through so much adversity from the beginning to now. We lost some games that we should have won. We had some injuries. We had people not believing in us at a certain point in the season. We just kept working, kept fighting and believing in each other. That's all that matters.”

— J.R. Bremer, Head Coach, Cleveland Heights Boys Basketball (cleveland.com)

“Our coach always tells us to crash the boards. We've got to have all four guys work back. We all crash the boards.”

— Noah Blue, Senior Forward, Cleveland Heights (cleveland.com)

“He pushed us since we lost here last year in districts. He texted right after the game. Our senior group had a group chat and said, 'This is our year.'”

— Noah Blue, Senior Forward, Cleveland Heights (cleveland.com)

What’s next

Cleveland Heights will face St. Edward on Wednesday, March 13, 2026 at the University of Akron's James A. Rhodes Arena in the Division I regional semifinals.

The takeaway

Cleveland Heights' return to the Sweet 16 under coach J.R. Bremer demonstrates the program's resilience and the coach's ability to mold a team of experienced seniors and promising underclassmen into a Cinderella contender. The Tigers' mix of talent and determination could make them a force to be reckoned with in the state tournament.