The Euclid Panthers' boys' basketball team opened up OHSAA tournament play with a convincing 90-65 victory over Painesville Riverside.

Euclid started off the game firing on offense. Jaden Wanton (2), Mike Patterson, and Clayton Cunningham (2) all hit three pointers in the opening quarter on the way to putting up 30 points in the opening frame.  Cam Smith joined in on the action scoring 6 points in the quarter off of an assist from Jordan Rees and offensive put backs.  Euclid led 30-15 after one quarter of play.

In the second quarter the long range shots did not fall as often for the Panthers, but they continued to attack the rim and offensive glass and assert themselves inside. At halftime the Panthers led 44-25 behind Wanton's 11 points, Cunningham's 10, Smith's 8, and Michael Patterson added 7 to round out the balanced offensive attack.

Riverside began to take advantage of some Euclid turnovers in the third quarter and convert them into three point goals.  By the end of the third quarter, Riverside had reduced the Panther lead to 15 points, 62-47. That was as close as Riverside would get the rest of the way.

Euclid calmed down and reduced the turnovers in the fourth quarter which led to easy baskets and free throws to close out the game.  When the final horn sounded, Euclid had advanced to the Sectional Finals with a convincing 90-65 win.

Leading Euclid was Cunningham with 24 points, Wanton with 21, Patterson tallied 18, and Smith finished with 11.

Euclid advances to the sectional final on Saturday February 27th as they travel to Canton to take on #16 seeded Glenoak.