Koltsov's clutch free throws help Lakeview pull stunner

The Bulldogs upended top-seeded Edgewood 51-43.
MADISON -- Lakeview High's Alex Koltsov has been shooting more than 40 free throws a day for as long as he can remember.
None were as critical as the four he made in the final 19.1 seconds to help the Bulldogs upend top-seeded Ashtabula Edgewood 51-43 in the Division II district tournament at Madison.
With Lakeview nursing a 45-43 lead, Koltsov was fouled as the Bulldogs tried to run out the clock and the senior calmly hit both free throws to give his team a four-point lead with 19.1 seconds remaining.
He later hit two more free throws with two seconds to go to seal the win.
"I've lived my whole life to be in a situation like this in my senior year," Koltsov said. "I wanted to be the one standing there on the line with the game in the balance.
"I knew if I focused they would go in."
Up to that point, the usually strong-shooting Lakeview team was just 2 of 8 at the foul line.
Junior Ed Mackiewicz also made both of his free throws with 10.7 seconds left to help Lakeview stun the Warriors.
"What a big win," said Lakeview coach Larry Herrholtz. "I'm so proud of our kids to come up here in unfamiliar surroundings and knock off the top-seeded team.
"This gives us confidence for the rest of the tournament."
Up next
Lakeview (19-3), unseeded in the tournament, will face second-seeded West Geauga in a semifinal game Tuesday at 6 p.m. The Wolverines knocked out the Bulldogs in last year's district semifinals.
Against Edgewater, senior Mark Frangiamore led Lakeview with 17 points, including eight in the final period. He also grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.
Frangiamore's effort helped the Bulldogs regroup after the Warriors rallied in the third quarter to forge a 33-32 lead, their first lead of the game.
Edgewater's Riley Kreisher single-handedly brought the Warriors back from a nine-point halftime deficit by scoring 12 points in the third quarter and 10 more in the final period.
The senior scored 22 of his team's 26 second half points.
"Riley's an incredible player," Herrholtz said. "We've seen him play and knew he was capable of carrying a team on his back like that."
The Bulldogs got off to a fantastic start by shooting over 58 percent from the field on 11-of-19 shooting in the first half to open up leads of 13 points.
Sophomore Dustin Opalka hit his second 3-pointer in the second quarter to give Lakeview a 22-9 lead five minutes before halftime.
"It was important to come out and shoot the ball well," Herrholtz said. "We were able to set them back on their heels somewhat and get comfortable in the game."
Frangiamore also had a hot hand in the second quarter, scoring three field goals for seven points.
Lakeview's man-to-man defense bothered the Warriors in the first half as the Bulldogs held Edgewater to just seven first quarter points to open up a 12-7 lead in the first eight minutes.