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Poland defeats Fitch in OT
By Jim Flick
AUSTINTOWN
After letting a 10-point lead slip away, the Poland High boys basketball team dominated Fitch in overtime for a 64-53 victory.
The Bulldogs (8-4, 5-3 All-American Conference American Division) had a 10-point advantage in the third quarter, but the Falcons (6-7, 4-4) bounced back, posting a 20-9 fourth quarter for a 48-48 score.
“Never quitting, perseverance” were the keys to victory, Poland coach Ken Grisdale said. “We’re not a talented team, we’re not a pretty team, but we’re a gritty team and we’re starting to believe in what we need to do to be successful.
“And belief is a dangerous thing.”
Poland led 48-44 with just 32 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter when Austintown senior Nick Williams sank a field goal.
When the Bulldogs in-bounded the ball, the Falcons forced a quick turnover. Fitch senior Will Mahone slammed home a field goal at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
Poland senior Colin Reardon opened the extra session with a free throw, then junior Alex Hubbell connected for a field goal.
After Williams connected on a free throw for the Falcons, Reardon and senior Conner Schultheis drilled 3-pointers for the Bulldogs, boosting their lead to 57-49.
The rest of the overtime period was a parade to the free-throw line, with Poland gaining a 7-4 advantage.
“Give our guys credit tonight,” Fitch coach Brian Beany said. “They didn’t give up, and they haven’t all year.
“When things don’t go their way, they continue to fight, and that’s what they did tonight.”
Poland sank 12 3-point shots, compared to five for the Falcons.
Poland also out-scored Fitch from the free-throw line. The Bulldogs connected on 16 of 29 shots, compared to eight of 18 for the Falcons.
Reardon and senior Jerry Lawman each scored 20 points to lead the Bulldogs. Each player sank four 3-point shots.
Schultheis contributed nine points, and sophomore Jacob Wolfe added eight points for Poland.
Austintown’s Mahone tallied 21 points to lead all scorers, and sank four 3-pointers.
Williams scored 14 points for the Falcons. Senior Dan Chepke and sophomore Jesse Driver pitched in with eight points each.
“I thought our kids did a good job against the zone [defense], because the zone isn’t something we’ve seen a lot this season,” Grisdale said.
Referring to the Falcons, Grisdale said, “Those kids don’t quit.”