SPRINGFIELD – Eric Goddard scored 31 points and added 7 rebounds as 14th-seeded Graham nipped No. 4 Ponitz, 78-76, in overtime in the Division II boys basketball sectional on Friday.
Graham trailed by 10 points with five minutes remaining but rallied for the win.
Ponitz led, 32-27, at the half and the score was tied, 69-69, at the end of the fourth quarter.
For the Falcons, Ben Sells had 22 points and 9 rebounds and Eli Hollingsworth added 10 points and 10 assists.
“We fought all game and battled back to put it into OT,” said Graham Coach Grant Hall. “Ponitz is a solid team and DayJuan Anderson is hard to guard. We were denying him and sent 1 to 2 extra guys at him and he still had 34 points.
“Ben Sells played through a bad sprained ankle, and had 18 of his 22 points after his injury,” he added.
The Falcons (9-13) advance to play 10th-seeded Dayton Carroll here today at 7:30 p.m.
“We were focused all week in practice, so we need to prepare with the same mindset for Carroll (tonight),” said Hall.
At 5:30 p.m. today at Springfield, No. 11 Urbana (16-6) plays No. 7 Trotwood-Madison.
Tigers win
WEST LIBERTY – Logan Saylor scored a game-high 17 points as West Liberty-Salem defeated Triad, 54-46, in OHC boys basketball on Friday.
WL-S led, 33-17, at the half.
For the Tigers (12-11, 9-7), Owen Johnson had 9 points and Taran Logwood added 8.
For the Cardinals (9-14, 4-12), Ayden Spriggs had 14 points and Kane Bailey added 9.
WL-S won the jayvee game, 40-19. For the Tigers, Andre Jones had 10 points, Jayden Temple had 9 and Logan Phillips added 8.
In the Division III sectional, WL-S plays Dayton Christian today at 7 p.m. at Northmont and Triad plays Meadowdale on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Vandalia Butler.
