“It’s survive and advance right now” said Tigers Head Coach Evan Callihan on Litter Media RADIO. “You’re gonna get everyone’s best. It’s a new season… They threw a few punches, then we would, and we were able to make plays down the stretch.”

Circleville closed out the first half on a 5-0 run for a 20-15 lead at the break, and opened the third period by extending the margin to 26-15. It had the makings of a runaway.

Held scoreless for nearly six minutes into the second half, the Blue Devils inserted Josh Watts and found instant offense. Watts dropped in back-to-back baskets from three-point range and suddenly the gap was closed to 26-21.

Riley Jenkins hit a three-pointer to put the Tigers back on top, but Gallia responded with a long range shot by Tripp Sola to regain the lead at 32-31. Gabe Hammons made one of two free throws to knot the game at 33. Circleville then ran the remaining 1:42 off the clock holding the ball for the last shot, but failed to score.

In first overtime, Kole Nungester and Blain Fowler drained five-of-six shots from the line to go ahead 38-35… enter Watts again to send the game to a second extra period on another jumper from the corner, 38-38.

Jenkins hit a three to open the final four minutes for a 41-38 lead with Cade Mock answering for Gallia on a dunk to cut the lead to one. When it appeared the Tigers might work the clock for a second time, Jack Kline found an opening down the lane for a lay in to extend the lead to 43-40. With less than a minute to go, Nungester rebounded a Gallia miss on the baseline and hit a breaking Ed Kirk for a two-fisted jam that brought Tiger fans to their feet for a 45-40 spread and Circleville could sense its 14^th win on the season.

“Whenever I got the ball, I just knew I was gonna throw it down” said Kirk. “I went up, I flushed it and the whole gym loved it.”

Gallia Academy closed its season at 8-15.