Bulldogs clinch ITCL title tie
East Palestine beat United 48-43 in overtime on Wednesday.
EAST PALESTINE — For the second time in three seasons, the East Palestine High boys’ basketball team cut down the nets.
The Bulldogs overcame a very emotional last five days by rallying in overtime to knock off upset-minded United 48-43 Wednesday night in overtime to clinch at least a share of the ITCL Tier One championship.
“These kids deserve this after what they’ve had to fight through in the last week,” said East Palestine coach Tom Bingham. “We didn’t play well in the first half, but we hung around and dug ourselves out of the hole.
“We tell the kids that life’s not fair and that how you deal with adversity makes you the person you are. The kids really listened to that tonight and found a way to win.”
The Bulldogs could have been celebrating an outright league title after beating United, but last Friday’s heart-breaking loss to Columbiana prevented that. In that contest, a questionable call in the closing seconds resulted in a one-point Clippers’ victory.
While the contest was an emotional one for both teams and their fans, who stormed the court afterward, Bingham made sure his players put it in the past quickly.
“We got it all out of our system on Saturday when we came in,” said Bingham. “It was basically a talk session where everyone could express what they were feeling, then we moved on.”
After trailing for most the game against a tough United defense, East Palestine came alive in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs completed a rally from nine points down to take its first lead (36-35) with three minutes left in regulation.
United regained the lead, but could only stretch it to three points. Two Braxton Mascher free throws got the Bulldogs within 39-38 with 22 seconds left.
United’s Zack Taylor put his team ahead 41-38 with two charity tosses with 16 seconds remaining.
But East Palestine senior Chad Campagna banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the key with seven seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime.
“When I let it go, I thought it had a chance to bank,” said Campagna. “It’s like in practice when you’re just throwing shots up and calling bank. I felt like it could go in.”
The Bulldogs took charge in the extra session, outscoring United 7-3, including a 3-pointer by Brandenn Keylor and four free throws.
Now with a piece of the league crown and an opportunity to win it outright next Tuesday in a rematch against Columbiana, Bingham knows his team will be ready.
“The kids know what’s at stake,” said Bingham. “We won’t have to prepare them mentally for that game. They know what they have to do.”