GAME RECAP

By: Jon Adams, Assistant Athletic Director at Berea-Midpark High School and Westlake Athletics

Last night’s matchup did not disappoint as Westlake hosted SWC contender Berea Midpark. These evenly matched teams battled nonstop for 40 minutes, exchanging point for point the entire game, and after a gut wrenching double overtime, the Demons fell short with seconds left in the game 79-81.

Dylan Bednar drove to the basket and drew a foul to score the 1st point for the Demons. The Titans then jumped out to a quick lead, but the Demons fought back and Justin Garcia, with a 32 point game, tied the score 16-16. Midpark made a shot at the end to take a 3 point lead at the end of the 1st quarter 16-19.

Bednar found himself at the free throw line again to start the 2nd quarter and went 2 for 2 to get the Demons on the board. Once again, Midpark went on a run to increase the lead, but Garcia hit for another 3 and Joe Klessel got under the basket for some easy buckets to keep the Demons within striking distance. Strong defense from Will Ostrowski included a nice steal, plus Nate Klima shooting from the free throw line, helped close the gap as the Demons trailed by 4 going into halftime 30-34.

The Demons opened the 2nd half with a 3 pointer by Blake Wolfe, followed by a bucket by Garcia to start the offense. Ostrowski found Ray Ellington in the corner for 3 to take the first lead of the night. Westlake continued to play strong team defense, but Berea continued to find the basket to keep the game close. Garcia dropped a bucket and the Demons were only down by 1 at the end of the 3rd quarter 50-51.

Garcia went deep for back to back 3 pointers for Westlake in what fans believed was the final quarter of the night. The Titans just would not give up and quickly scored and the Demons were down again with 2:26 to go. Westlake was in foul trouble with a few players getting too close for comfort and Garcia received his 4th foul with 2 minutes left in the game. With less than a minute to go, the Demons were behind by 1 point and the Titans went to the line with 20 seconds left. Down by 3 with six seconds in the game, the Demons got the ball in Garcia’s hot hand and he drained a 3 at the buzzer to send the gym in a frenzy as the game went into overtime.

With both fans on their feet, the 1st overtime proved that this was going to be a nail biter. Westlake lost a top defensive threat in Klima when he fouled out the game with 1:14 left in OT. Ostrowski and Garcia both hit 3s to keep the Demons in the game, but it was the Titans who came up with the basket in the end to send it into Double OT.

Garcia continued to be an offensive threat and opened up the Double OT with back to back 3 pointers. Berea came back and dropped 5 to make it a 1 point game.  Berea-Midpark was up by two points in the end and Devin Johnson stepped in front of Westlake’s last second attempt for a steal that locked up the Titans win.

Garcia lead both teams in scoring with 32, followed by Ostrowksi and Bednar with 9 each, Klessel 8, Tyler Kolocouris and Klima scored 6 points, Ellington 5, Wolfe 3 and Austin Norris chipped in 1.

For Berea-Midpark Josh Finkovich finished with 26 points and eight assists, one to Alex Kvak with 2.5 seconds left in double overtime to give Berea-Midpark an 81-79 victory at Westlake on Friday night.

Berea-Midpark had three other scorers in double figures on the night, as Jordan Cupach scored 19 (60% 3pt), Kvak recorded another double double with 14 points and 15 rebounds and Johnson scored 13 points and four steals.The Demons are 5-1 (3-1 conference) and play in a non- conference game at Perrysburg on Friday, December 27.

Happy Holidays!
JV Result – Westlake 52-51
9th Result -Westlake  53-47

UP NEXT

Quick turn around for the Titans as they will travel down I-71 Saturday December 21st for showdown with Brunswick High School. Freshmen tip at 4:30, JV and Varsity will follow.

The Demons are 5-1 (3-1 conference) and play in a non- conference game at Perrysburg on Friday, December 27.

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