Beavercreek senior Isaiah-Michael Williams had a game-high 23 points and senior Kaden Ellerbe added 17 points as the Beavers fell to 6-9 overall.
It was Beavercreek’s third game in four days. They beat Miamisburg 56-37 on Friday night and fell to Newark 50-47 on a last-second 3-pointer late Sunday evening at the Battle in the 614 at Ohio Dominican University.
“It was a crazy weekend for us,” said Beavers coach Isaiah Williams. “I really didn’t get down on the kids, they fought hard in both games going down to situations with a last-second shot. I was happy that we were able to put up a good showing for the fans and everybody else. … They were out of gas, but I was rewarding them for the effort.”
The Panthers led 34-32 at the half and increased the lead to 51-47 with about one minute remaining.
Isaiah-Michael Williams converted a 3-point play to make it 51-50 with 32.4 seconds remaining. He hit a free throw to tie the score with 14.1, missed the second free throw, but it was rebounded by sophomore Dawson Paulus. He passed it right back to Isaiah-Michael Williams, who was fouled again. He hit one free throw to give the Beavers a 52-51 lead.
The Panthers shot with about five seconds remaining rimmed out, but the officials called a foul on Isaiah-Michael Williams — his fifth foul — as both teams went for the rebound. Murphy made the first free throw, but missed the second to send the game to overtime.
“It was a scrum, but I didn’t think it was on Isaiah,” Williams said. “That took the wind out of our sails. That was tough. You hate that it had to come down like that, but they gotta do what they gotta do and we have to be able to execute a little bit better.”
Without Beavercreek’s leading scorer in the game, the Panthers scored six straight points to start the overtime period and never trailed again. Pickerington North senior Arness Lawson, a Duquesne commit, had a team-high 19 points.
Castalia Margaretta 86, Valley View 51: Bears junior Julian Washington, one of the top recruits in Ohio’s junior class, had 35 points and 14 rebounds, hitting seven 3-pointers in the victory.
It was Valley View’s first-ever appearance at the annual Dayton basketball showcase.
“We were excited to be here representing the (Southwestern Buckeye League),” said Spartans coach Zack Denny. “We played an outstanding team in Margaretta. They have very talented players and they’re very well-coached. It gave us a good learning experience to move forward.”
The Bears jumped out to a 26-13 lead after the first period and never looked back. Washington, who has nine Division I offers, shot 13-for-16 from the field, including 7-for-10 from the 3-point line.
“He’s tough,” Denny said. “He’s an elite player. … He had seven assists, so he was getting his teammates involved.”
Spartans sophomore Brody Denny, the coaches’ brother, had 23 points for Valley View, which fell to 8-3 overall. The Flyin’ to the Hoop experience was great for his players, Zack Denny said.
“We loved being here and hopefully we can work hard and get back here next year,” he said.
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