MANSFIELD (Crawford County Now) — Galion made history Tuesday night and got a measure of revenge in the process.
Galion defeated Clear Fork, 54-44, in their Division IV district semifinal at Pete Henry Gymnasium. Galion not only avenged its two regular season losses to the Colts but also became the first Tigers’ team to reach a district final game since the Tim Birie led 2008-09 squad advanced to the regional tournament.
Galion (8-16) will meet Van Wert (18-6) — a 51-30 winner over Wauseon— in the district final at Paulding High School on Saturday.
“It’s a great feeling. I don’t have words because I haven’t been in this position,” Galion coach Tyler Sanders said. “But I’m happy I get to do it with these 10 kids, 10 kids I love coaching every day.”
Getting there was not a foregone conclusion prior to, or even during, the game. Clear Fork (9-15) had swept the regular season series in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference by scores of 46-36 and 47-40.
“Every game we’ve had with them was 7-10 points,” Clear Fork coach Brandon Baumgardner said. “They were both battles to the end.”
The district final was no different except for the role reversal, with Galion finally coming out on top.
The Tigers led at every quarter break, albeit by the slim margins of three points, two points, and one point before pulling away in the fourth quarter.
The Colts led early, 7-4, before the Tigers closed out the first period on a 7-1 run for an 11-8 lead. Clear Fork regained the lead in th third quarter but could not create separation and never led by more than three.
Shooting was the difference, as the Colts shot a pedestrian 39% from the field and the Tigers were a solid 53%.
“We haven’t shot the ball from outside the way we’d like to this year, but I know we’re good shooters,” Sanders said. “Tonight, we decided the 3-point shot’s not falling for us so we’re going to the rim.”
According to the coach, shooting has been a season-long issue for Clear Fork.
“There were a lot of games we were under 35% from the field total,” Baumgardner said. “That was really nothing new. That’s why we’ve really focused on defense. We knew we weren’t the best offensive team.”
The difference maker was Dominic Capretta for Galion. The 6-foot-3 junior post scored eight of his game-high 20 points in the fourth quarter. Capretta also grabbed seven rebounds — four offensive boards — to dominate on the block.
“Dom was massive inside finishing tonight,” Sanders said. “Jay (Jameson Glew) had a couple of big drives, Christian (Bare) had some good put-backs.”
After losing seven games in a row to end the regular season, Capretta said the attitude has changed for the Tigers.
“We put the regular season behind us,” Capretta said. “We realized it’s a new season — post season — anything can happen.”
“They really focused on getting him the ball in the paint, down low,” Baumgardner said of Capretta. “They hadn’t done that in the past. They used him more outside as screening and trying to get shooters open.”
Bare scored eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter for Galion to second Capretta. Parker Tinch grabbed seven rebounds.
Jacob Brokaw and Trey Sellers shared scoring honors with 15 points each. Sellers lived up to his name by hitting three triples. Carter Coole and Marcus Hoeflich pulled down five rebounds apiece.
Brokaw, along with Xander Cyphers and Chris Ransom, played their last game for Clear Fork.
“Jacob Brokaw — he was the heart of our team this year,” Baumgardner said. “You could tell tonight he did not want his season to be over. He put the team on his back like he did most times this year, great senior leader.”
The Tigers know they are playing with house money at this point.
“The pressure’s not on us. I think it’s on Van Wert,” Capretta said. “They’re the higher seed, better record. If we go out, play our ball, we can compete with anybody on any given night.”
“I’m just proud of these guys for gutting it out,” Sanders said. “Tough season. Everybody knows we went 1-12 down the stretch. It doesn’t seem to bother these guys. They continued to grind, come to practice every day, and get better.”
Box score
Galion 11 9 13 21 — 54
Clear Fork 8 10 14 12 — 44
Galion (8-16): Shots 21-39; 3-pt. shots 3-13 (Jameson Glew, Dominic Capretta, Colton Flynn); Free throws 9-16; Rebounds 19 (Dominic Capretta 7); Turnovers 10. Scoring: Jameson Glew 4 0 9, Dominic Capretta 8 3 20, Colton Flynn 1 3 6, Parker Tinch 1 0 2, Cam Smith 2 0 4, Christian Bare 5 3 13.
Clear Fork (9-15): Shots 18-46; 3-pt. shots 4-14 (Trey Sellers 3, Noah Goodman); Free throws 4-8; Rebounds 24 (Carter Coole 5, Marcus Hoeflich 5); Turnovers 9. Scoring: Xander Cyphers 1 0 2, Tye Pryor 0 1 1, Noah Goodman 1 0 3, Jacob Brokaw 7 1 15, Carter Coole 1 0 2, Trey Sellers 5 2 15, Marcus Hoeflich 1 0 2, Alekai Price 1 0 2, Gracin Crunkiliton 1 0 2.