Monroeville wins thriller for outright FC title

MONROEVILLE — The Monroeville boys basketball team finished off the program's first Firelands Conference championship in thrilling fashion Friday night. The Eagles rallied for a 59-58 win over visiting South Central to clinch the first title since the 1983-84 season outright. Monroeville (16-5, 11-3) — winners of 10 in a row — trailed 54-48 with 3:32 left. But the Eagles got two free throws from Ethan Pomerich and an inside basket from Maverick Myers with 2:20 remaining to pull within 54-52. The Eagles still trailed 56-52 with under two minutes to go after Bryan Chaffee gave the Trojans a two-possession lead. Myers then made two free throws on a foul on Monroeville's next trip down the floor, then the Eagles forced a turnover. Myers again went baseline and scored to tie the game with 1:26 remaining to tie up the game at 56. Brayden Viock was fouled with 59.6 seconds left for South Central. But down 58-56, Pomerich also got to the rim and tied it with 39.2 left. The Trojans had a good look at the basket and came up short, and the Eagles got the ball back with 29 seconds remaining. Holding for a final shot, Link Schaffer-Paull took a 3-pointer from the left wing, but was off the mark. However, Cole Perry was there for the rebound and was fouled with 0.8 seconds left. The officials put one second on the clock, and Perry made the first, but missed the second and time quickly ran out on the 59-58 win. Monroeville has a third meeting with FC rival St. Paul (12-10) at 6 p.m. Thursday in a Division VII sectional title game. The Eagles beat the Flyers, 57-47, on Dec. 12 at home, then St. Paul won, 44-38, on Jan. 17 in Norwalk. Chaffee finished with 24 for the Trojans (10-12, 4-10). South Central will host New Riegel (6-16) in a sectional title game on Thursday. New London 60, Mapleton 43 NEW LONDON — The Wildcats capped their huge turnaround with a win over the Mounties in Friday's regular season finale. New London enters the tournament at 13-8 overall and 7-7 in the FC. That mark came on the heels of the program finishing 10-101 overall and 5-65 in the FC over the previous five years. In Friday's win, Henry Thomas scored 12 points, while Grady Heileman and Jarrett Mencl each added 10 points. New London will host Crestview (11-10) in a Div. VI sectional championship game on Friday (Feb. 27). The Wildcats won the first meeting at home, 63-53, on Dec. 12, while the Cougars won the rematch, 72-55, on Jan. 17 in Olivesburg. MAPLETON (2-20, 0-14) Eric Herbert 6-1—13; Gian Nobleza 1-0—2; Keith Donley 2-0—5; Dalton Beattie 0-1—1; Cole Dennison 3-0—7; Jack Sheppard 1-0—2; Ethan Dennison 1-0—2; James Zehner 4-3—12. TOTALS NEW LONDON (13-8, 7-7) Henry Thomas 5-1—12; Mikai Phelps 1-0—3; Grady Heileman 3-2—10; Presley Ferguson 2-0—6; Garrett Carruthers 2-0—6; Jaxson Schaffer 2-0—4; Brody Sword 2-0—5; Jarrett Mencl 3-2—10; Tytin Osterland 2-0—4. TOTALS Mapleton 4 14 13 12 — 43 N. London 7 19 22 12 — 60 Three-point FGs: (NL) Heileman 2, Ferguson 2, Carruthers 2, Sword, Mencl, Thomas, Phelps; (M) Donley, C. Dennison, Zehner. W. Reserve 71, Plymouth 35 PLYMOUTH — The Roughriders dominated the host Big Red in their regular season finale Friday night to finish 11-9 overall and 9-5 in the FC. Western, Plymouth (14-8, 9-5), and Crestview (11-10, 9-5) finished in a three-way tie for second place behind champion Monroeville in the league. Hayden Dobias scored 18 points for the Roughriders, while Chase Hipp had 17 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Hayden Keith added nine points, five rebounds, and there steals, while Cooper Roe also had seven points. Western finished 25 of 44 shooting (57 percent) while the Big Red struggled to 11 of 47 from the field. The Roughriders visit powerhouse and top-seeded Genoa (22-0) in a Div. V sectional title game on Feb. 27, while the Big Red host Mansfield St. Peter's (7-14) in their sectional game on Thursday (Feb. 26).