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Ryan Turk (30), seen here against Bay, lifted the Demons over Buckeye with an unbelievable performance! He nailed a 3 at the end of regulation to send it to OT, then delivered a game winner in OT.
It is never easy to beat a team 3 times in a given season, that adage held true again, as Westlake dispatched conference rival Buckeye in the first round of the OHSAA Tournament 64-62 in OT!
This was one for the ages, as it had more ups and downs than the latest Cedar Point thrill ride.
The two teams, quite familiar with each other, battled back and forth throughout the first half with neither willing to give an inch.
The first half concluded with the visiting Buckeye bunch hanging on to a 33-30 advantage.
No one could have anticipated with the fireworks that were forthcoming in the second half.
The intensity built through the third quarter with the home Demons taking a 42-40 lead into the final regulation quarter.
The fourth continued the stalemate until it would appear that the Bucks had things well under control with a three-point lead with just 2.5 seconds remaining.
At which point, a foul placed senior captain Andrew Wallenhorst (12 points on the evening) to the free throw line. His first effort rattled out thus making it increasingly bleak for the home team. The only hope would be an intentional miss which never works, right? Well not this time!
Wallenhorst missed perfectly, as it deflected directly back to him and he somehow, in one motion, found Ryan Turk (team high 21 points) who was strategically placed at the three point line. Turk cold bloodily drained the money ball sending the home crowd into a frenzy and his team onward to OT.
The bonus quarter had the feeling that momentum had swung to the Demons, but Buckeye and to their credit, wasn’t going anywhere.
With the score knotted again at 61 and the clock ticking down to a final Demon possession. Working off perfectly timed handoff from sophomore point guard AJ DeFazio and a textbook solid screen from senior captain Evan Hargett (15 points on the evening), Turk” I believe I’ll have another” worked to virtually the same spot, same results, and the same pandemonium ensued.
It concluded a classic high school basketball game that will long be remembered for those involved and in attendance.
By Brian Harris
