Poland’s experience pays off in OT

Poland v. Chaney Boys' Basketball

Gallery

By Dan Hiner

dhiner@vindy.com

Boardman

It finally happened. Poland’s class of 2019 finally got its district title.

The Poland boys basketball team beat Chaney 69-57 in overtime to win a Division II district championship on Saturday at Boardman High School.

Poland had experienced pitfalls in the district tournament in the past.

The Bulldogs were eliminated in a district semifinal by Salem in 2017 and lost to Ursuline in the finals in 2016 and to Lakeview last season.

Saturday’s win marked Poland’s 10th district title, but the first since 2015.

“After four years of just hard work in the gym, summers, study halls, just every day ... I mean we’re down there working with coach and we finally get a win in one of our last games, and it’s special,” Poland senior guard Braeden O’Shaughnessy said.

A layup by senior forward Daniel Kramer tied the game at 52 for the Bulldogs (23-2) with over 1 1/2 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

The game went to overtime, and Poland’s postseason experience paid off. The Bulldogs held the Cowboys (21-6) scoreless over the final 2:49 of overtime.

Kramer finished with a game-high 32 points with five rebounds, two steals and a pair of blocks. O’Shaughnessy had 22 points, six rebounds and four steals.

The duo combined for 25 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, with Kramer leading the way with 18.

“I was bringing it all tonight because we were losing in the districts every year, but we really wanted this one,” Kramer said. “We’ve been playing all offseason, just preparing for this.”

Poland head coach Ken Grisdale had some juggling to do with the lineup. Kramer and O’Shaughnessy both finished the game with four fouls. O’Shaughnessy picked up his third with just under three minutes left in the first half.

“You can’t sit [O’Shaughnessy] with the season on the line,” Grisdale said. “If I’m gonna lose, then I’m gonna lose with him.”

Chaney head coach Marlon McGaughy didn’t expect the Cowboys to compete for a district title in their first year back after a seven-year hiatus from varsity sports.

“With such a young team, I thought we’d be .500 at best,” McGauggy said. “They exceeded expectations this year for sure.”

The Cowboys are young. Two of the Chaney’s top players are sophomores — Cameron Lawrence and Sharrod Taylor.

Taylor led the Cowboys with 20 points and five rebounds while Lawrence had 10 points. Senior Marquel Gillespie finished with 12 points, four rebounds and three steals.

“We got good players coming in, we got a lot of young kids, we got a good program starting to build now,” McGaughy said. “I’m thinking we’re gonna be good for years to come.”

Poland will play Akron Buchtel at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Canton Civic Center. Buchtel beat Tallmadge 86-52 to win the Canton district.

“It’s gonna be a team just like [Chaney] — bigger, physical,” O’Shaughnessy said. “It’s gonna be a tough game. We’re gonna see what we’re all about [Wednesday] night.”

Poland will sell tickets on Monday and Tuesday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m.-noon. Advance tickets are $7. All tickets at the door will be $8.