Waverly State Final 4 Bound With OT Win Over Heath For Regional Title

Presented By McDonald’s

The (23-4) Waverly Tigers are headed to the State Final Four for the first time since 1970 following their 46-45 overtime win over the (23-4) Heath Bulldogs for the D-2 Regional Championship Saturday at the Ohio University Convo.

Heath took the lead early and held onto it for most of the game and held a 5-4 at 4:31 in 1st quarter, then led 12-10 after one period.

Penn Morrison’s fast-break cut the Heath lead to 16-15 at 4:43 of 2nd quarter, followed by a Heath time out. Out of that timeout, Heath went on a 6-0 run following back-to-back 3’s from Grayson Shumate and Brandon McLaughlin to push the lead up to 22-15 with 3:12 left. 

Heath called a timeout with 1:45 left as Trey Robertson scored on a drive to cut the lead down to 22-18.  Will Futhey and Trey Robertson hit three-pointers to cut Heath’s lead to 25-24 at halftime.

Waverly started third quarter cold from the field, but stayed close to Heath, trailing 32-29 with 2:30 left.

Heath held a 32-31 after three periods.

The Tigers took their first lead of the game with 6:10 left in regulation when Will Futhey found Mark Stulley bucket and a 33-32 advantage.  

Heath got the lead back at 34-33 with 4:58 to go then 35-33 at 4:02.

Trey Robertson’s free throws at 2:39 to play gave the Tigers a 37-35 lead, then Waverly got possession and called a timeout leading by that same score with 1:37 remaining.

Trey Robertson hit two free throws and then Keylan Williams might’ve saved the game for Heath with a steal and assist on a Reece Huber break-away bucket leading to a crucial bucket to cut the Waverly lead to 39-37 with :56.2 to go.

Robertson made one of two free throws for 40-37, then Heath’s Keylan Williams connected on a triple with 25.8 seconds left to tie the game at 40-40.  The Tigers’ had a chance for the win in regulation but their shot under pressure glanced off the rim. 40-40 headed to overtime.

The OT remained scoreless until a Mark Stulley to Will Futhey lob pass led to a 42-40 Tigers lead with :38 to play.

Keylan Williams picked up his fifth foul but the Tigers were unable to gain any points on that trip to the line. Will Futhey later connected on 1 of the 2 at the foul line for a 44-40 lead, but Reece Huber of Heath answered back with a quick bucket cutting Waverly’s lead to 44-42 with  8.2 in OT.

The Tigers added two more points in the closing 8 seconds while Heath connected on a three, as the Tigers are Final 4 bound with a 46-45 win in OT.

The Tigers will face Gilmour Academy at 8:30pm March 18th in the State Semis at UD Arena in Dayton. Gilmour Academy advanced with a 62-35 win over St. Mary Memorial.

Trey Robertson led the Tigers’ attack with 22 points, Hudson Kelly added 8, Will Futhey 6, 4 each from Mark Stulley and Braylon Robertson and 2 from Penn Morrison.

Heath had two men in double figures, led by Reece Huber with 13 and Brandon McLaughlin with 10.

Defense was the key for both squads as Waverly shot 36% on 16/45 while Heath was 40% on 17/43. The Tigers countered with 11/17 at the charity stripe while Heath was only 4/9.

The Tigers will play Gilmour Academy at 8:30pm March 18th at UD Arena after Academy beat St. Mary Memorial 62-35.

Waverly’s last Final Four appearance was the spring of 1970, where they fell 73-55 to Dayton Chaminade in the Class AA State Semi at OSU’s Saint John Arena.

Waverly’s chance to win in regulation glances off the rim.