KANSAS — Bowling Green senior guard Brock Hastings hit a fourth quarter three-point shot and scored six total points in overtime to lead the Bobcats to a 49-45 Division I tournament victory over Sylvania Northview Friday at Lakota High School.
BG (11-12) and Northview (16-7) split Northern Lakes League games during the regular season, but BG was the No. 13 seed in the district and Northview was seeded sixth.
“So happy for our guys,” BG coach Mason Roth said.
“We’ve been through a lot of adversity throughout the season and could have easily packed it in but these guys have had my back all season and stuck with me.
“Just a great group of guys to coach and we look forward to the opportunity to play again next Tuesday.”
The Bobcats trailed 28-27 entering the fourth stanza, but senior Jabari Conway and junior Brayden Freyman hit two key field goals apiece in the fourth quarter to force overtime at 38-38.
In overtime, Freyman scored four points, and senior Evan Brandt hit a key free throw so the Bobcats could advance.
“It was a battle all night,” BG coach Mason Roth said. “This was a great game from start to finish.
“Wasn’t pretty at times but both teams competed at an extremely high-level tonight. Fortunately for us we were able to make a few plays down the stretch to secure the win.”
Hastings finished with 15 points, including 8-for-12 from charity stripe, and the 6-foot-8 Conway scored 14 points.
Freyman scored eight, junior Ahmir Ruffin scored six, Brandt scored four, and junior Jake Amspoker added two points for the Bobcats.
BG fell behind early, 11-6, but clamped down defensively in the second, not allowing the taller Northview team (four players 6-7 or taller, including one standing 6-11) to score inside the arc, to take a 19-17 halftime lead.
Drew Barnesky led Northview with 17 points, Jackson Clausius scored nine, Alex Dupree scored eight, Alan Horton scored six, Nick Campbell scored three points, and Alex McCoy added two points.
BG advances to next Tuesday’s district semifinal to face either Lima Senior (15-7) or Fremont Ross (7-15) at Lake High School for an 8 p.m. tipoff.
The winner faces the Toledo St. Francis (14-9)-Perrysburg (18-5) winner at 7 p.m. on Friday at Lake in the district final.
