Indian Valley holds off Cambridge to claim D-II sectional title

GNADENHUTTEN — That's why they play the games.

On paper, Saturday's Division II sectional championship with No. 2 seed Indian Valley hosting No. 17 seed Cambridge seemed like a clear path to a sectional title for the 19-4 Braves' squad.

But the underdog Bobcats must not have received the memo, as they gave Indian Valley all it wanted and then some before dropping a hard-fought 58-53 decision.

"Our kids played their hearts out tonight," CHS head coach Kyle Pertuset said. "We prepared hard all week. We were pretty demanding of them physically and they answered the bell all week. Including putting them in a lot of adverse situation to get them ready to play in a hostile environment.

"And they really responded with a great effort tonight," Pertuset added. "We just needed to make a few more plays here and there, a few more shots to fall for us. I love these kids, and I could not be more proud of the effort they laid on the line tonight."

Anyone's ball game heading to final frame

Entering the fourth quarter the two squads were deadlocked at 42 and who would be cutting down the nets after a sectional championship was still up in the air.

In the final eight minutes, the lead changed times five times before Cambridge took a 53-52 lead with sophomore Rylan Mathews taking a nifty assist from junior Jesiah Barnett for a layup with just 2:21 left in the game.

Indian Valley then recorded the sixth lead change of the quarter, retaking the lead at 54-53 with a pair of free throws from Ryker Williams at the 2:10 mark of the frame.

That would be the final lead change of the tightly contested contest. With the Braves closing out the victory by scoring the final four points of the night for the 58-53 win.

That victory earned the Braves a hard fought sectional title and a trip to the Division II district on Wednesday at 7 p.m. where they will take on No. 5 seed St. Clairsville in a semi-final matchup at Cambridge High School.

"I thought our seniors really stepped up in the second half," Indian Valley coach Ty Miller said after his Braves squad improved to 20-4. "Tyson Pryor had a huge third quarter for us which we needed. Cambridge played very hard, and it was a tight battle all night."

"You know when their careers on the line, you expect your seniors to respond," Miller continued. "And tonight in that second half, that's just what they did. We had a goal to win our league, which we did. And also to win the district, and now we move on to try to get that done."

Pryor finished with a game high 26 points to lead the Braves, with senior Tanyon McComb adding 18 and freshman Ryker Williams finishing with 13.

Bobcats continue strong close to rough season

Cambridge continued a strong finish to a season that included plenty of tough situations. Including the loss of a couple of key starters with sophomore Garrett Carpenter and senior Devin Ogle who suffered season ending injuries.

Entering the night with a disappointing 6-16 record, the Bobcats put forth another valiant effort as they continued to put forth an impressive effort.

"I feel the last quarter of the season we really figured out how to really play without the guys we had lost," Pertuset said. "Guys started to figure it out and what made us go, and how to attack. And what each of them needed to do. Sort of really settle into their roles we needed them to fill."

"It makes me sick to my stomach I wasn't able to help them get this sectional championship for our guys and the Cambridge community," Pertuset continued. "It's going to be very difficult for a while, because we really had a shot at it. And I'm just so proud of these kids and the way they continued to grind all season."

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Barnett tallied a team high 21 points with four assists, two steals to lead the Bobcats who finished with a 6-17 record. Senior Regan Rogers pumped in 17 points while Mathews finished with six points and a team high five rebounds. Juniors Rylee Homko-Green and Mason Gregg each contributed four points.

KSutton1@gannett.com; X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Indian Valley collects hard fought battle with feisty Cambridge squad for D-II sectional championship