POLAND SNATCHES VICTORY OOUT FROM UNDER WOLVERINES

POLAND OH- Everyone knee the district semifinal between West Geauga and Poland was going to be a close game. The eleventh seeded Wolverines went 22-4 a season ago, and were a regional team. They returned most of their roster, and the only reason the were seeded so low was the fact they hadn’t played many games at the time of voting. Poland was able to pull out a dramatic overtime win 78-67.

The Bulldogs came out swinging staring the game on a 9-0 run. The Bulldogs first five shots from the field were three pointers. Poland jumped out a 35-19 lead as the second half ticked away. The Wolverines put together a 10-0 run between the 2nd and 3rd quarters to get back in it though and cut the Poland lead to 35-29.

Throughout the rest of the game, every time Poland would appear to sneak away, West Geauga would find a big shot to keep the Bulldogs in striking distance. This paid off for them as in the fourth quarter they finally got their first lead of the game going up 62-61.

After a pair of free throws, the Wolverines made it 64-61. Poland then turned the ball over back to West Geauga and with 6.7 seconds to go in the game the Wolverines were in bounding the ball in front of their own bench. Mary Brant put on a cape for her team as she poked away the inbound pass, gathered it, and got a three up just in time to beat the buzzer. The shot went in and Poland snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Poland took that momentum into overtime and outscored West Geauga 14-3 in the extra frame. They would win 78-67.

Polsnd advances to their third straight district championship where they’ll host Marlington on Saturday at 7:00.