HARRISON, Ohio —

Every year, Mike Wilson decks out his home in Harrison, Ohio, for the Christmas season.

But things on Abigail Court in the Parks of WhiteWater neighborhood look a bit different in 2021, as the University of Cincinnati Bearcats prepare for their biggest game in program history against Alabama in the Cotton Bowl.

What is usually an array of Christmas colors is now a sea of red and black, as the Wilsons cheer on the Bearcats from afar.

For the Wilsons, the light displays are a labor of love.

"Sometimes I get frustrated with the amount of time it takes leading up to Thanksgiving when I'm trying to get everything done and he's working on the lights forever," Sarah Wilson said of her husband. "But it makes it all worth it in the end."

Sarah Wilson said he's slightly obsessed. But this year, he scored a touchdown, and he's the talk of Bearcat Nation.

"This year, they made history," said Mike Wilson, who describes himself as one of Cincinnati's biggest fans. "They're actually in the College Football Playoff — the first time ever Group of Five team — so why not celebrate as much as we can?"

Like so many in Cincinnati, Mike Wilson has waited for this moment his whole life.

"Finally, something is going right for Cincinnati fans. We're there. I don't want to say we made it because we expect more, but man we're there," he said.

Mike Wilson said he decided to add a little Bearcat flair to the annual light show in 2021. His wife — who normally cheers for that other team — didn't know what to expect.

"When he first told me, I kind of blew it off a little bit," Sarah Wilson said. "But then once he posted it and I saw it I was like, 'OK, that's actually really cool.'"

When asked if his neighbors think the display is just slightly obnoxious, Mike Wilson laughed.

"Well that wouldn't be me if I wasn't," he said.

Now, his entire street is filled with Bearcat believers. The only thing they need now is a little red and black magic in Dallas.

"I think there's a chance. I don't see why they can't shock the world and beat 'em," he said.

CINCINNATI —

Bengals fans saw Sunday's win as another sign the team will get a spot in the playoffs.

They said this season is bringing people together as Joe Burrow and the team forge ahead.

There is growing excitement at Paul Brown Stadium.

Fans were glued to the game and could be heard chanting and roaring at nearby bars, too.

It's an energy you can't beat.

"The vibes out here are immaculate. If you're not here, you're doing something wrong," fan Marushwa Kingu said.

People said it is fun watching the Cincinnati Bengals this season.

It is a party that is bringing in lifelong and new fans alike.

"We've been huge fans since I was born. Season tickets since '88," fan Kate said.

The 'Who Dey Nation' comes from near and far.

"We have the NFL channel in England and I watch every Sunday and started following the Bengals and then got right into it now," Scott, another fan, said.

The party roared on in the evening after the Bengals conquered the Baltimore Ravens.

People are enjoying watching Burrow do what he does best.

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"This whole season's been great, you know, last season we weren't very good, especially with Joe Burrow getting injured but he's come back with a vengeance this year and he's shown it today," Logan Schulte said.

Sunday's plays kept everyone energized well after the final score.

"We got some crazy, crazy wide receivers. They catch anything you throw at them. Anything," Ben Sweeney said.

Fans said they're feeling good about the chances of clinching a spot in the playoffs.

"Who Dey. Beat Kansas City. Patrick Mahomes is coming here. I will be there. Beat them," Brian Williamson said.

They said it's a new 'dey' for Cincinnati.

"Who Dey. Joe Burrow, I love you if you see this," Schulte said.

Fans have their eyes set on a spot in the playoffs.

Some also said they have Super Bowl dreams they hope could become a reality.

They said this win was a great holiday gift.

CINCINNATI — Taft High School football coach Tyler Williams held the Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference championship plaque near the sideline Friday night and started the joyous celebration with his team.

"It's a special moment for my team, for my community, for my family," Williams said late Friday night.

"It's been a great, great journey with these young men right now. We dealt with a lot of adversity throughout this whole regular season, he said, adding, "Just seeing these young men continue to fight each and every day and continue to overcome the adversity that we had been faced with – it's been amazing to watch them grow as a team."

Taft defeated Woodward 34-20 Friday night to capture the CMAC Red division title in the first season for Williams as the Taft head coach.

"Coach Tyler continues to build on the football tradition here at Taft," Taft athletic director Romell Salone said.

"The kids have adjusted and are buying into what he is teaching on and off the field. Our kids are building life relationships and lessons and are really looking forward to the playoffs with hopes to build on the history."

The Senators (7-2, 5-0 CMAC) are projected to be the No. 1 seed in Division V, Region 20, according to Joe Eitel.

The Senators are projected to host No. 16 seed Madeira (4-6) in the first round at 7 p.m. Oct. 30. The Ohio High School Athletic Association plans to officially announce the playoff pairings Sunday afternoon.

Williams, a former Colerain High School star who played at the University of Akron and professionally in the Indoor Football League (IFL), was named the Taft coach in February.

Provided

Williams was an assistant coach at Colerain and St. Xavier prior to Taft. His quick success at Taft this season is not a surprise to St. X head coach Steve Specht.

"Tyler has an innate ability to connect with kids and hold them to a higher standard," Specht said. "He's just scratching the surface. He'll be a great one."

Williams said the expectation this preseason was that winning the CMAC title is a "mandatory" step during the season for the program.

"We're winning it with structure, we're winning it with discipline, we're winning it with class," Williams said.

Taft had to overcome multiple injuries this season leading to the conference title, but Williams has emphasized a next player up mantra for the team to get stronger overall.

Williams mentioned multiple players who played well Friday night including junior running back Gavin Crawford, who had an estimated 200-plus yards rushing and five touchdowns.

Defensively, senior linebacker Everett Brown had a key interception. Senior Jakeim Sullivan has six interceptions this season while senior Keyandre Larry has eight interceptions.

Williams said his message to the team entering the playoffs this weekend is to stay patient before the official announcement on the pairings is made by the OHSAA on Sunday.

"Our kids are definitely putting themselves in a position to make a great run in the playoffs," Williams said.

WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP, Ohio — While the Ohio high school football playoffs do not start until next week, the atmosphere said otherwise Friday night at Firebird Stadium.

Lakota West defeated Lakota East 34-7 to win its second straight Greater Miami Conference title in a sold-out stadium of 5,000 fans, renewing the district rivalry that started in 1998. The Firebirds lead the overall series 16-9, including a 14-9 regular-season record.

"What more can you ask for?" Lakota West coach Tom Bolden said. "A chance for sole possession in the league, playing your district rival."

The Firebirds led 10-0 at halftime after senior Jyaire Brown's 50-yard interception return with 50 seconds left in the second quarter set up a 15-yard touchdown pass connection from junior quarterback Mitch Bolden to junior wide receiver Trent Lloyd.

Junior kicker Tyler Bohn made a 33-yard field goal on the Firebirds' opening drive of the first quarter.

The Firebirds excelled in all three phases in the second half.

Lakota West (8-1) went ahead 17-0 early in the third quarter after junior Malik Hartford blocked a Thunderhawks' punt and senior Alex Afari returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. Afari had a game-high 11 tackles Friday night.

The Firebirds took a 24-0 lead about six minutes later when Mitch Bolden found Lloyd for the second touchdown pass connection of the night. Bolden, the son of Tom Bolden, said the GMC title is very significant for the Firebirds.

"We're building a great tradition here," Mitch Bolden said. "It's something nice."

Bohn made his second field goal of the night early in the fourth quarter to give the Firebirds a 27-7 lead.

Senior running back Cameron Goode scored on a 67-yard touchdown run with 5:23 left, and senior Hannah Duncan's third extra point of the night gave the Firebirds a 34-7 lead. Goode had 11 carries for 107 yards.

"This was definitely a statement game to show everybody in the playoffs we're going to play hard every game," Goode said.

Lakota West entered Friday night as the No. 3 seed in the Division I, Region 4 computer points standings and will likely host a first-round game next week. Lakota East (7-3) will also likely host a first-round game next week, according to Joe Eitel.

The Thunderhawks scored on a 6-yard run by junior quarterback TJ Kathman late in the third quarter. Senior linebacker Charlie Kenrich had a team-high seven tackles, according to game statistics.

Ohio's 2020 high school football season will be comprised of just six games beginning Aug. 24 with every team eligible for the playoffs, according to a message from the Ohio High School Athletic Association's interim executive director, Bob Goldring, on Friday.

If the plan is approved by Gov. Mike DeWine, all teams will enter the playoffs beginning Oct. 9, and state championship games will be played no later than Nov. 21.

"Schools also will be afforded the opportunity to play 10 total regular-season contests — whether they continue regular-season games after they are eliminated from the playoffs or should they decide not to enter the playoffs — as long as they complete their season by November 14," Goldring's announcement read.

OHSAA's board approved the measure unanimously Friday.

“To both ensure we can offer students the opportunity to participate in education‐based athletes but do so with their best interests in mind, we believe this modified plan offers a positive solution by addressing many of the concerns of our member schools,” said Jeff Cassella, president of the OHSAA Board of Directors and athletic administrator at Mentor High School. “Those that are able to start their seasons on time will be able to do so. Those that are starting later can still have a season. Add in the option of all schools entering the playoffs and the possibility of schools still being able to play 10 regular-season contests, and this plan is helpful to virtually all of our schools.”

In a recent OHSAA membership survey, the highest number of responses to one of the questions posed of superintendents, principals and athletic administrators indicated that nearly 60% (890 of 1,498 respondents) favored reducing the regular season and maintaining full OHSAA tournaments, or maintaining the full regular season and maintaining full OHSAA tournaments.

In 2020, the number of playoff rounds will be dependent upon the number of schools entering the playoffs in each division. Schools eliminated from the OHSAA playoffs or that choose not to enter the OHSAA playoffs will have the option to schedule additional regular-season contests through Nov. 14, with a maximum of 10 regular-season contests permitted.

Here's what the 2020 season will look like:

• Regular season Week 1: Week of Aug. 24
• Regular season Week 2: Week of Aug. 31
• Regular season Week 3: Week of Sept. 7
• Regular season Week 4: Week of Sept. 14
• Regular season Week 5: Week of Sept. 21
• Regular season Week 6: Week of Sept. 28
• Playoffs begin Friday, Oct. 9
• State finals end no later than Saturday, Nov. 21

Read more in the viewer below:

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The Boston Red Sox squandered a late lead against the Houston Astros, falling 9-2 in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday.

The Red Sox led the Astros 2-1 entering the eighth inning, but Houston tied the game in the top of the eighth and scored seven runs while batting around in the top of the ninth.

Astros third baseman Alex Bregman opened the scoring by hitting a solo home run over the Green Monster in left field in the top of the first inning.

Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts, however, answered right back in the bottom of the first with a two-run shot that sailed over the left field wall and out of the ballpark.

Boston second baseman Christian Arroyo hit a one-out triple to right in the bottom of the fourth, but he was stranded at third base.

Bogaerts hit a one-out double in the bottom of the fifth, but he was also left in scoring position.

Boston starting pitcher Nick Pivetta rebounded from the home run he allowed in the first by keeping Houston off the scoreboard over the next four innings. In five innings of work, Pivetta allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out three.

Red Sox relievers Josh Taylor and Adam Ottavino combined to keep the Astros scoreless in the sixth.

Garrett Whitlock threw a scoreless seventh inning for Boston, but he allowed a leadoff homer to Jose Altuve in the eighth, but he was able to escape further damage.

Game 2 starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi was called into relief for the Red Sox in the ninth inning. After allowing a leadoff double to Carlos Correa, Eovaldi was able to strike out two batters, but Jason Castro was able to drive in Correa to give the Astros a 3-2 lead.

Manager Alex Cora pulled Eovaldi after he walked Altuve to load the bases. The pitcher he brought in, Martín Pérez, allowed a bases-clearing double to Michael Brantley that gave Houston a 6-2 lead. Yordan Alvarez tacked on another run by driving in Brantley on a single.

In his second at bat of the inning, Correa hit an infield single and an errant throw from Pérez allowed Bregman to score and make it 8-2. Kyle Tucker then drove in Alvarez on a base it to produce the final score.

Astros starting pitcher Zack Greinke, who was making his first start since Sept. 19, lasted just 1 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs on one hit and three walks.

Houston's relief pitchers allowed four more walks over the remainder of the game, but limited Boston to just four more hits after Greinke left the game.

Astros closer Ryan Pressly allowed two hits in the bottom of the ninth, but he did pick up three strikeouts to end Game 4.

KINGS MILLS, Ohio — The Kings High School football team clinched at least a share of the Eastern Cincinnati Conference title Friday night with a 35-21 win against Turpin.

But the undefeated Knights don't plan on resting on the accomplishment anytime soon.

"Our first goal is to win the ECC title. But after that we want to go as far as we possibly can and make history at Kings," Kings junior quarterback Will Kocher said.

Kocher threw three touchdown passes and scored on a 69-yard touchdown run on the second play of the third quarter. Kings, which had 380 yards of total offense, entered Friday night as the No. 2-ranked team in the Division II, Region 8 computer points standings.

"I think to win and be in the position that we are in going into Week 10 is a great testament to what these kids have done all offseason," Kings coach Alex Garvin said.

"I'm so proud of them and these coaches have done so much work to put us in this position. It just means everything."

Kings, 9-0 for the first time since 2014, scored 28 unanswered points after it trailed 7-0 after the first quarter.

Kocher found junior wide receiver Michael Mussari for the first of two touchdown passes (42 and 70 yards) to help tie the game late in the second quarter.

Two minutes later, Kocher connected with senior wide receiver Andy Bauman for a 36-yard score to help give the Knights a 14-7 halftime lead.

Kocher opened the third quarter with a quarterback keeper. Then, he ran 69 yards for a touchdown to help give Kings a 21-7 lead.

Senior kicker Ryan Sylski recovered his own onside kick, and that helped to set up senior running back Max Sannella's 6-yard touchdown run to give the Knights a 28-7 lead at the nine-minute mark of the third quarter.

Turpin, ranked No. 9 in the Division II, Region 8 computer points standings entering Friday, closed the gap when senior running back Keenan Alcalde – the ECC's leading rusher – scored on an 18-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.

However, Kocher connected with Mussari on a 70-yard touchdown pass a short time later to help give Kings a 35-14 advantage.

Turpin made things interesting late in the game after senior wide receiver Ryan McDole's 23-yard touchdown reception.

Turpin recovered an onside kick, but Kings junior Jake Cameron's interception helped to seal the game for the Knights (9-0, 7-0 ECC), who conclude the regular season at Little Miami Oct. 22.

Turpin (6-3, 4-3 ECC) plays host to district rival Anderson (7-2, 6-1) Oct. 22.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Five weeks ago, the Baltimore Ravens figured they’d have to win out and get some help to reach the playoffs.

After tending to their own part of the equation with four straight victories and receiving the necessary assistance last weekend in the form of losses by Cleveland and Indianapolis, all that remains for the Ravens (10-5) is one more item of business: defeat Cincinnati in the regular-season finale this Sunday.

MORE: About 10,000 fans allowed at PBS for Bengals' season finale

Getting into the postseason for the third year in a row is what’s important. Who they play if they get there is irrelevant.

“All we can focus on is the next game. Not focus on the playoffs,” Ravens tight end Mark Andrews said. “We’re just trying to get better and win this game, and the cards will fall how they fall.”

Baltimore was 5-1 before a skid that coincided with an outbreak of COVID-19 at its training facility sent the season off the rails. Four losses in five games — including three in a row before the current hot streak — can be forgotten with a victory at Cincinnati (4-10-1).

Ravens star Lamar Jackson needs 92 yards rushing to become the first quarterback in NFL history with two 1,000-yard seasons. At this juncture in the season, personal accomplishments are meaningless to the league’s reigning MVP.

“Being honest, I just want to win Sunday and come out of the game healthy,” Jackson said. “It doesn’t really matter about any records being broken, or anything like that. I just want to win to get in the playoffs.”

The Ravens have won their past three games against Cincinnati, their longtime AFC North foe. Baltimore beat the Bengals 27-3 in October before Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow’s season ended with a knee injury that brought about the emergence of Brandon Allen, who shredded Houston last week by going 29 for 37 for 371 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Cincinnati has nothing to gain except being the spoiler and ending a difficult season with a three-game winning streak.

After the Bengals went on the road to defeat the Texans 37-31, coach Zac Taylor said, “We’re out of the playoff hunt. It’s easy for guys to check out right now, and we haven’t had a single player do it. Just proud to coach these guys.”

MAINTAINING FOCUS

Following a 19-14 loss in Pittsburgh in which Jackson was sidelined with the coronavirus, Baltimore stood at 6-5 and in third place in the division. Ravens coach John Harbaugh kept spirits up with a calming directive that set the course for the rest of the season.

“I feel that coach did a great job during that time,” safety Chuck Clark said. “We were all at home on Zoom waiting for the next thing. What would be next? What’s the message? Where are we going from here? Coach did a good job of keeping us all grounded, knowing that we would all eventually overcome the situations that we had, and be able to get back out there and go win football games to be able to put ourselves in position.”

ROOKIE SENSATION

Bengals receiver Tee Higgins is on the cusp of setting a team rookie record.

Higgins has 67 catches, tied with Cris Collinsworth for most by a Bengals rookie. He was selected out of Clemson with the first pick in the second round of this year’s draft.

ROOKIE SENSATION II

Ravens rookie J.K. Dobbins has displaced Mark Ingram as the starting running back and is part of a three-tiered threat for a team that counts heavily on the run.

Jackson leads the way with 908 yards rushing, Gus Edwards has 663 and Dobbins checks in with 645 after being used sparingly early in the season.

Dobbins, a former star at Ohio State, has seven touchdowns, one in each of the past five games.

“As soon as they drafted me, my thought process was, ‘Let’s go in here, let’s get better, and I’m going to find a way to get on this field and help this team win as many games as possible — get us to a Super Bowl, if that’s possible,’” he said. “And that’s just what I’ve been doing.”

HUMBLE BUT CONFIDENT

Allen is 1-3 as a starter this year, so he wasn’t about to proclaim himself a star after tearing apart Houston’s defense last weekend.

“I’ve had a couple bad games too,” Allen said. “So I’ll take this with a grain of salt and just keep trying to get better. But I always wake up on game day with the confidence that we’re going to make all the plays we need to to win the game. And I always kind of feel like I’m going to make all the throws that I need to.”

He will tested by a Baltimore defense that has had 11 sacks in the past two games.

The NFC divisional round will give fans a third-time treat: another meeting between old-timers Tom Brady and Drew Brees.

Possibly the final one.

The AFC matchups, meanwhile, will include the Cleveland Browns for the first time since they re-entered the NFL in 1999, and Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.

Brees assured that the NFC South rival Saints and Buccaneers will meet once more, throwing for two touchdowns in a 21-9 victory over Chicago. The New Orleans quarterback, who turns 42 on Friday — one year younger than Tampa Bay's star — is toying with retirement, but with the way the Saints defense is playing, a second trip to the Super Bowl is not a long shot.

Tampa Bay (12-5) defeated Washington 31-23 on Saturday. The Bucs will travel to New Orleans (13-4) next Sunday night.

“The minute that he signed with the Bucs and came to the division, you felt like that was going to be a team to contend with, that was going to be a team that would have playoff aspirations and beyond, just like us,” Brees said of meeting Brady in the playoffs for the first time. “So, I guess it was inevitable.”

The other NFC game next weekend will be on Saturday as Green Bay (13-3 and coming off a bye) hosts the Los Angeles Rams (11-6), who downed Seattle this weekend.

In the AFC, Cleveland's return to the postseason for the first time in 18 years went very well. The Browns not only snapped a 17-game skid at Heinz Field, they manhandled the mistake-prone archrival Steelers 48-37 Sunday night. On to face reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City (14-2 and coming off a bye) next Sunday.

After two postseason flops, Jackson was his usual dynamic and decisive self in leading the Ravens to a 20-13 wild-card victory at Tennessee. That sends them to Buffalo on Saturday night.

Browns 48, Steelers 37

In their first playoff road victory since 1969, the Browns (12-5) overcame all sorts of problems and history.

Baker Mayfield threw for three touchdowns and the Browns got their first playoff win in 26 years. Kareem Hunt added two touchdown runs for Cleveland, playing without several high-profile players and head coach Kevin Stefanski due to COVID-19.

It hardly mattered as the Browns raced to a quick 28-0 lead then turned aside Pittsburgh's second-half rally. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger passed for 501 yards and four touchdowns but also threw four interceptions.

Saints 21, Bears 9

Michael Thomas and Latavius Murray caught Brees' touchdown passes, and Alvin Kamara rushed for 99 yards and a 3-yard scoring run after sitting out the regular-season finale and not practicing this past week because of COVID-19 protocols.

New Orleans (13-4) held Chicago (8-9) to 239 yards, just 48 rushing.

“Our defense played outstanding,” coach Sean Payton said. “We tackled well in space. ... Ultimately we forced them to become one-dimensional, and when you do that you’re going to win a lot of games.”

The Saints won both meetings with the Bucs during the regular season.

Ravens 20, Titans 13

Some first steps are far longer than others. Such as what Jackson achieved Sunday.

He isn't in any way the only reason Baltimore is advancing — the defense shut down 2,000-yard rusher Derrick Henry like no other team has come close to doing. But he was a positive contributor, unlike in losses to the Chargers and Titans in his other playoff appearances.

Jackson ran for 136 yards and a 48-yard touchdown while throwing for 179 more, rallying the Ravens from a 10-0 hole. The Ravens (12-5) went 21 straight losses in either the regular season or playoffs when trailing by 10 or more points.

Despite being sacked five times and throwing an interception, Jackson turned in the sixth 100-yard rushing game by a quarterback in the postseason, and joined Colin Kaepernick with two.

“We stayed focused. We didn’t get rattled. Our coaches didn’t get rattled. We had to put points on the board," Jackson said. “I throw an interception, a dumb interception. We just kept fighting.”

Especially the defense: Henry had his worst performance this season with 18 carries for 40 yards and the Titans (11-6) were held to their fewest points of the season.

“Our defense was tired of hearing the noise,” Jackson said. "And they did what they were supposed to do.”

SATURDAY

Buccaneers 31, Washington 23

In his first postseason game wearing a uniform other than New England's, Brady showed why he was so responsible for the Patriots' two-decade dynasty. While leading his new team, the Buccaneers (12-5), to their first playoff win since Tampa Bay won the 2002 championship, Brady extended his record for playoff victories to 31. He threw for 381 yards and two touchdowns in his 42nd postseason start.

“You could win 100-0 and it’s going to be the same result in the end," Brady said. “You’d love to play great every game; I think it’s good to win and advance. If we don’t play well next week, we’re not going to be happy. Glad we won, glad we have another week of work.”

Bills 27, Colts 24

At Buffalo, there actually was a playoff game played, for the first time in 15 years. And won by the Bills, the AFC East champions for the first time since 1995. Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and scored another rushing, and the Bills (14-3) knocked down a desperation pass by Philip Rivers to end the game.

The Bills have won seven in a row.

“We understand that whatever’s going on in the game, we feel like we’ve got a chance,” Allen said. “That’s just based on how we play, how we trust one another, how we care for one another, how we practice. Just the foundation. ... It is a family-like atmosphere here and we want to do everything in our power not to let each other down.”

Rams 30, Seahawks 20

At Seattle, a staunch defensive performance by the league's top-ranked unit lifted Los Angeles (11-6) into the divisional round. The Rams, even with unanimous All-Pro DT Aaron Donald sitting out much of the second half with a rib injury, rattled Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, sacking him five times and getting a pick-6 from Darious Williams. LA also shut down the Seattle rushing attack.

"We expected to do this," Rams coach Sean McVay said. "Nobody acted surprised.”

CINCINNATI — The Eastern Cincinnati Conference announced Friday morning the adoption of a nine-game conference football schedule starting with the 2022 season.

The ECC athletic directors voted 9-1 Thursday in favor of the move.

The 2022 season would have just one non-conference game possibility for ECC members in the first week of the year. There are 10 weeks in an Ohio high school football regular season.

The ECC is in its first full season of an eight-game conference schedule since it added Lebanon, Winton Woods and Little Miami starting in the fall 2020. (The COVID-19 pandemic shortened the 2020 regular season across the state with Kings and Winton Woods named ECC co-champions).

The ECC said conference football games will occur in weeks 2-10 starting in 2022. Each school's conference scrimmage will become the Week 2 contest.

"It's great for our conference," Winton Woods athletic director David Lumpkin said. "I think you are going to see probably other leagues as well. We're not the only league to consider this. It's getting tougher and tougher to schedule and it leaves us with a true champion without having a bye every year."

The expansion of the Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs to 16 teams per region in the seven divisions also played a factor in the ECC's decision.

In Division I, Region 4, 16 of the 17 eligible programs will make the playoffs this year.

While the computer playoff points, also known as Harbin points, earned are important for playoff seeding, it's not as relevant for making the postseason as in past years.

"Looking at the structure, I think everyone realizes things are evolving and we have to evolve and change with it," Milford athletic director Aaron Zupka said. "I think it was a pretty easy decision. It was just timing of when to do it."

Lebanon athletic director Keith Pantling said the move to nine ECC games is very beneficial for the communities and for Lebanon to continue to establish new rivalries.

Pantling and Zupka recognized the change locally for the football scheduling landscape where rivalries outside the conference will change during the regular season.

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"It's getting tougher for smaller conferences and further diminishes the chances of more local private school-public school matchups," said Pantling, who was the La Salle athletic director from 2016 to 2018. "I've been in both chairs."

The ECC, which started in 2012, includes Kings, Turpin, Anderson, Milford, West Clermont, Little Miami, Walnut Hills, Winton Woods, Lebanon and Loveland.

The Greater Miami Conference discussed a nine-game conference schedule at its Sept. 7 meeting and plans to revisit the discussion no later than the October meeting, but it could happen sooner.

Giannis Antetokounmpo ended one of the greatest NBA Finals ever with 50 points and a championship Milwaukee waited 50 years to win again.

Antetokounmpo had 50 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots as the Bucks beat the Phoenix Suns 105-98 on Tuesday night to win the series 4-2.

It was the third game this series with at least 40 points and 10 rebounds for Antetokounmpo, a dominant, debut finals performance that takes its place among some of the game's greatest.

He shot 16 for 25 from the field and made an unbelievable 17-of-19 free throws — a spectacular performance for any shooter, let alone one who was hitting just 55.6% in the postseason and was ridiculed for it at times.

He hopped around the court waving his arms with 20 seconds remaining to encourage fans to cheer, but it was way too late for that.

Their voices had been booming inside and outside for hours by then, having waited 50 years to celebrate a winner after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson led the Bucks to the championship in 1971.

In a season played largely without fans, the Bucks had 65,000 of them packed into the Deer District outside, a wild party that figured to last deep into the Midwestern night.
Confetti rained down inside as fans chanted "Bucks in 6! Bucks in 6!" — which began as a hopeful boast by a former player turning out to be a prophetic rallying cry.

The Bucks became the fifth team to win the NBA Finals after trailing 2-0 and the first to do it by winning the next four games since Miami against Dallas in 2006.

Chris Paul scored 26 points to end his first NBA Finals appearance in his 16th season. Devin Booker added 19 points but shot just 8 for 22 and missed all seven 3-pointers after scoring 40 points in each of the last two games.

The teams that came into the NBA together as expansion clubs in 1968 delivered a fine finals, with the last three games all in the balance deep into the fourth quarter.

The Bucks won them largely because of Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP in the regular season who raised his game even higher in the finals and was voted the NBA Finals MVP.

The Larry O'Brien trophy was presented to the Bucks by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

This story will be updated shortly.