Piketon used a great start, excellent shooting, and dominating offensive rebounding to knock off previously unbeaten North Adams 74-72 Wednesday night to advance to the regional championship. The Redstreaks dominated much of the game, leading by as much as 15 in the second half, before North Adams stormed back to actually tie the game with under a minute left. Missed free throws (10-23) nearly cost Piketon, but they survived thanks to a basket by Cody Smith with only five seconds left in the game. It was fitting that the winning basket was an offensive put back, since Piketon owned the offensive boards most of the night, and that it was scored by Cody Smith who led Piketon with 34 points.
Piketon started fast jumping up 7-2 thanks to five quick points by Jordan Brabson who came into the game averaging just under 30 points per game throughout the tournament. Brabson would finish the game with 18, which was impressive considering the minutes he had to sit with foul trouble. That foul trouble started with Piketon leading 16-9 midway through the 1st quarter. Brabson charged to pick up his second foul and had to exit the game. Piketon would overcome Brabson’s foul trouble, thanks to controlling the offensive boards and picking apart the North Adams pressure which led to a lot of easy Redstreak baskets. These factors allowed Piketon to attempt almost twice as many shots as the Green Devils and, shoot 56% from the floor. Piketon led at the end of one 22-14.
Piketon picked right up where they left off starting the second period. Even with Brabson sitting with the two fouls, Piketon continued to persevere. Cody Smith stepped up and began to carry the Redstreaks. Smith scored 17 first half points to go with Brabson’s eight, and Piketon went into halftime with a 35-28 advantage. Piketon continued to shoot well ending the half at 55%.
Keenan Brush got the scoring started in the second half with yet another offensive rebound and stick back to put the Redstreaks up by nine. North Adams battled back, however, like you would expect a 23-0 team to do. Physical play, defensive pressure, and District Player of the Year Kraig Unger all had a hand in the North Adams comeback.
The fourth quarter would prove worth the price of admission. Piketon’s Smith and North Adams’ Unger continued to carry their respective squads offensively. Unger finished a Devils 5-0 run with a long 3 pointer, his 29th point of the evening, to cut the Piketon lead to 68-63 with 3:09 left. Piketon continued to fight foul trouble as Caleb Southworth fouled out with 2:30 left, and Jordan Brabson playing with four fouls. North Adams cut the lead to four before Evan Legg hit a big midrange shot to stop the Devils run. This was followed by Cody Smith hitting one of two free throws scoring his 31st point of the night. This put the Streaks up seven, but once again Unger hit another triple cutting the lead again to four. Brabson then missed two free throws, and Unger hit two free throws cutting the Piketon lead to two with 1:19 left. With :52 seconds left Cody Smith again made of good on one of two free throws, putting the Streaks up three. Unger once again answered, hitting a three to tie the game with :20 remaining. Following a Piketon timeout with 14 seconds, Cody Smith tipped in a Legg miss with five seconds left. At the buzzer, Unger couldn’t get his ninth three-pointer to go down and the Redstreaks held on to win 74-72.
The win made history for Piketon, and they advance to the regional final for the first time in school history. They will play the winner of Grandview Heights and Buckeye Trail on Saturday at the Convo.