Denmeade’s goal in OT saves Clippers, 66-65

By Chuck Housteau

COLUMBIANA — When East Palestine’s Matt Greene pulled down a rebound of a missed Columbiana free throw with 4.8 seconds left in overtime Friday night, it looked like the Bulldogs were on the verge of capturing an outright Inter Tri County Tier One championship.

However, a controversial jump ball call gave the Clippers the ball and another chance at overcoming a 66-65 deficit and remaining alive in the title chase.

Columbiana (13-4, 11-2) took advantage of the second chance and scored on the ensuing inbounds play under its own basket when Tyler Denmeade broke free in the lane and laid in the game winner at the buzzer for a 67-66 win.

Bedlam followed as fans of both teams stormed the court in protest and celebration of the Columbiana victory, and the gym had to be cleared after several incidents of pushing and shoving broke out.

“We’ll just have to win the title twice,” said an obviously upset East Palestine coach Tom Bingham after the game.

The two teams will meet on Feb. 24th in East Palestine with the championship on the line again. Columbiana will have to win again to share or win the title outright.

The Clippers have just one league game remaining while East Palestine must also play United in conference play.

“The way I feel about it is that it was a great high school basketball game in a great environment,” said Columbiana coach Eric Witmer. “Somebody had to win and somebody had to lose.

“I thought both teams were prepared. Both teams put everything they had into the game and we were fortunate enough to make enough plays to win.”

The Clippers battled back in overtime from a four-point deficit, 63-59 to get to within one point on a free throw by Nick Good and a basket by Kevin Blinsky.

Blinsky led Columbiana with 16 points and nine rebounds while Good tallied 14 points.

The teams traded points until Trevor Patterson scored with 11.5 seconds remaining to give the Bulldogs a 66-65 lead.

Columbiana’s Travis Denmeade, who hit six 3-pointers and tallied 21 points, was fouled with 4.8 seconds left but missed both ends of the two-shot free throw to set up the final drama.

Witmer visited the East Palestine locker room after the game.

“I have a lot of respect for Tom [Bingham] and his staff and his kids do a great job,” Witmer said. “I know how that feels and I know what it is like to be on the other side of a game like this.”

Bingham said he told his team they still control their own destiny.

“We have to get ready to play United next week and we have to come to practice tomorrow and get ready,” Bingham said. “We are going to do our best to regain our focus.”

East Palestine (16-2, 11-1) was led by Braxton Mascher and Austin Cope who helped rally the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter.

Cope hit a big 3-pointer to tie the game at 49-49 after it looked like the Clippers were going to start to pull away.

Cope scored eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter while Mascher scored five of his game-high 22 points in the final quarter and overtime.