SHELBY -- Western Reserve dug themselves out of a double-digit second half hole to claim the program's first district championship in 58 years, downing Willard 65-64 for the D3 title at Shelby.

 

The #3 Flashes (19-5) got off to a smoking hot start behind Austin Adleman's 13 first quarter points to put the #2 Roughriders in a 22-15 deficit entering the second. With senior guard John Skrada in foul trouble, Western Reserve (20-2) fell behind 40-30 by the break and struggled shooting from beyond the arc.

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Luke Rowlinson began to take over offensively for the Roughriders in the third, but with Western Reserve going 0-8 from downtown in the frame, they remained in a 53-46 hole to start the final frame. Rowlinson would finish the day with 31 points and 10 rebounds to earn Player of the Game honors, willing his team back into the lead late in the game.

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Willard would have a couple of looks at potential game-winning baskets in the closing seconds but saw each end up off-target and Rowlinson fittingly securing the final rebound to secure the victory. For Roughriders longtime coach Chris Sheldon, it was his first district title in seven trips to the finals, showing a ton of emotion and joy after the closing horn.

 

Enjoy (most of, sorry for the technical difficulties) the entire game with Brian Skowronski and Mark Bollinger on the call on the video above. 

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