Mascher enjoys rehab return

By Tom Williams

The recovered senior helped East Palestine defeat Columbiana for the ITCL Tier One crown.

EAST PALESTINE — After rehabbing two knee injuries that cost him two seasons, no one was happier to savor a championship than East Palestine senior post player Braxton Mascher.

“It just feels great to get my name on one of these trophies,” said Mascher after coming off the bench to score 23 points in the Bulldogs’ 73-63 victory over Columbiana Tuesday in their jammed gymnasium. “We have a winning tradition at EP and I just wanted to be part of it. This is one of the best moments of my life.”

Mascher and junior post player Ben Gysin took turns dazzling the Clippers into double-digit deficits.

In the first-place showdown for the Inter Tri-County League Tier One crown, the Clippers (14-5, 11-3) twice rallied to frustrate the Bulldogs (17-3, 13-1) out of comfortable leads.

But after shaving a 46-34 hole to 48-44, the Clippers couldn’t stop Mascher in the fourth quarter as he scored 14 points to seal the title.

“He’s a coach’s dream, really,” East Palestine coach Tom Bingham said. “He’s worked really hard to get back from the two knee surgeries. He doesn’t complain and he steps up big in these big games.”

Early on, Gysin was all but unstoppable. In the first quarter, Gysin scored 11 points, made four rebounds and blocked two shots as the Bulldogs raced to an 18-10 lead.

“They are by far the best interior passing team we play,” Columbiana coach Eric Whitmer said. “They pass the ball in the post [so well].”

Five points by Tyler Denmeade and four apiece from Kevin Blinsky and Josh Harold helped Columbiana tie the game, 27-27, at halftime.

But on the strength of Gysin’s seven rebounds and Austin Cope’s seven points, the Bulldogs dominated the third quarter for a 46-34 lead.

“I actually felt like we were in good shape with a couple of minutes to go in the game, but we dug a hole in the third quarter,” Whitmer said. “We missed a lot of easy shots.”

Consecutive baskets by Trenton Hatherill and a 6-0 run early in the fourth quarter had the Clippers to within four.

“We had them nervous a few times,” Whitmer said.

Bingham agreed.

“You can never relax against them,” Bingham said. “They’ve come back from bigger deficits. Our kids did a nice job of withstanding it”

The Bulldogs outscored the Clippers 25-19 down the stretch.

“We were on edge the whole game until that buzzer sounded,” Mascher said. “We knew they could battle back and anything is possible with [Columbiana].”

Gysin agreed.

“Columbiana can score so fast,” Gysin said. “They are such a great team that you can never fall asleep on these guys or they will make a run.

“It feels fantastic — packed house against Columbiana, to get the traveling trophy and the ITCL trophy,” said Gysin who made 14 rebounds and three blocks.

“There’s nothing better than winning a championship at home,” Gysin said. “I arrived at 4:30 and there was a line way past the gate ... it was an insane atmosphere that got everyone hyped up.”

Cope contributed 17 points and four rebounds.

The Bulldogs’ only league loss was the first game at Columbiana.

“They did what we didn’t do — they won at Springfield and United,” Whitmer said.

Denmeade led the Clippers with 19 points off the bench. Harold and Blinsky each scored 13.

“A lot of people picked us to be .500 this year so for our players to come here and give them a run for their money, I’m very pleased,” Whitmer said.

willams@vindy.com