TROTWOOD — The dream run finally came to a close.
Indian Lake battled Purcell Marian the whole game before falling 53-52 in overtime in a Division V boys basketball district final at Trotwood-Madison.
The Lakers started well and led for the entire first half. Purcell Marian fought back and drew even in the third,
After a series of 3-pointers gave Indian Lake a lead late in the fourth, the Cavaliers hit a tying shot with just under two minutes to go.
It would require an extra session to decide matters. After a couple minutes of stalemate, Vincent Clark scored for Purcell Marian. Brody Reisinger answered for the Lakers.
Esquire Heard then drew contact on a shot attempt and made the second of two attempts with 58 seconds to go.
In the final stretch, Avery Pequignot got a tip in with seven seconds remaining. The Cavaliers raced down the court, and Chris Washington scored in the post with 3.2 seconds left.
Indian Lake had to inbound at the opposite end of the court from its basket. They got it in range and into the hands of Pequignot, but his shot from 3-point range fell just short at the final buzzer.
The Lakers end the season with a record of 17-8. They were 8-2 in the Central Buckeye Conference, sharing the Mad River title with North Union.
Reisinger led Indian Lake with 20 points. Tyler Tidwell put in 17 and Pequignot had 11. Scoring once each were Madden Lillard and Colin Bendler.
Purcell Marian is now 15-10. Leading scorers were Washington with 23 and Clark with 12.
“For high school basketball, that’s what you’re looking for,” said Indian Lake head coach Zach Overturf. “You got two good teams battling it out. It’s a one-possession game. The ball didn’t bounce our way one time and it was the one that mattered most at the end.”
Overturf that this year’s squad had six seniors graduate. “Everybody outside that locker room were saying this is going to be a rebuilding year for us. We turned it around, and we won the league for the third time in a row, and we made it down here, which is one step farther than the group last year. … I’m proud of those guys, and the effort they gave for 25 games, and I’m looking forward to what they do for the next couple of years.”
The teams traded scores in the early going, with Indian Lake having a 5-4 edge. Tidwell then hit back-to-back shots before Purcell broke a dry spell with 2 1/2 minutes to go on a jumper by Clark.
Pequignot then managed to take the ball away from Purcell under his own basket, and put it up and in. Clark would score a couple more times in the period for the Cavs.
But a Lillard pass set up a 3-ball from Pequignot in between those to ensure a 14-10 lead for Indian Lake after one.
Matthew Wright made a 3 to start the second, and cut the lead to one. But they would not score again for several minutes, and Clark headed to the bench after two fouls in quick succession.
Pequignot assisted on a three by Tidwell, then Reisinger scored to make it 19-13.
Finally, with 1:35 to go, Washington scored on a fast break for Purcell.
After an exchange of scores, the Cavaliers made a steal and went down the court. But the easy layup was no good. Indian Lake then had time enough to come back and see Reisinger splash a 3-pointer to send them to the break up by seven, 24-17.
Indian Lake hung on to the lead through the first four minutes of the third period, getting scores by Tidwell, Reisinger and Lillard.
Washington then hit two and Heard one to tie it at 30 with 2:18 left.
The drama to come was foreshadowed as Reisinger hit two shots, with Purcell’s Kevin Blye and Clark responding.
After another basket trade in the opening minute of the fourth. Purcell took its first lead of the night on baskets by Washington, Heard and a three from Wright.
Indian Lake showed no fear, and got its own long distance firing in gear. It was Pequignot, Tidwell, Pequignot again and then Reisinger as they went back in front 48-45.
After a Cavaliers timeout, Wright knotted it with 1:57 to play. Purcell Marian regained possession and ran the clock down, calling timeout with 47 seconds to go and again with 11 seconds left. The Lakers then defended for a bit and called time with five seconds remaining.
The Cavaliers were then called for going over and back the midcourt line. The Lakers had less than a second, and could not get off a shot, sending it to OT.
This was the third trip to a district final for the Lakers in their history.
Overturf again praised the team’s one senior, Madden Lillard. “He did a heck of a job for us all year, just as a leader, as a player, as a competitor. So I love that dude to death,” he said.
The Cavaliers advance to next week’s Region 20 semifinal, where they will face Summit Country Day. The game is set for Wednesday at 6 p.m. with Fairborn High School as the host site.