Wolverine men win in overtime in Parma

 Weiser Wolverine’s traveled to the Parma Panthers on Jan. 28. Coming into the game Weiser was 3-1 in conference play and Parma 1-3. Even with only one conference win, Parma is a formidable opponent.
 The game started quick with Parma scoring first on an inside pass to their post.
 Evan Haggerty countered with two for Weiser as he drove across the key, making a tough contested shot.
 Weiser took control with a few defensive stops and buckets on their end. Three minutes in Tyler Pope connected with Sam Kerner for a lay-in as Kerner cut through the key.
 A couple of possessions later, Wolverine Brett Spencer fought hard for a rebound was fouled as he put the ball in. At the line he added one more, Weiser 12, Parma 7.
 Parma was able to score on a couple of trips down the court and the first quarter ended Weiser 12, Parma 10.
 Both teams struggled to score the first few minutes of the second.
 Parma started finding the bucket taking the lead with 4:42 left in the half. It was Weiser 12, Parma 14.
 Both teams made multiple trips up the court trading buckets.
 About five minutes in Spencer brought the game within one, with a three-pointer on an assist by Pope.
 The game was very physical with players fighting for position under the basket and to keep control of the ball. Near the end of the second quarter Parma took a five-point lead and the half ended Weiser 21, Parma 26.
 Coming out of the locker room the Panthers increased their lead to nine-points.
 About two minutes into the third, Weiser’s Eli Ruiz started the Wolverine scoring with his first three-pointer on an assist from Spencer.
 Weiser had a defensive stop and regained the ball back. Ruiz dribbling at the top of the key made a fake towards the basket and then pulled back above the arc to sink another three-pointer.
 Parma never gave in and at the halfway mark of the third, Parma had increased their lead to 10 points.
 Weiser’s Kerner got in on the three-point action when he made a shot on a pass from Haggerty.
 Even with the intense defense, the Wolverines could not close the gap. The third ended Weiser 35, Parma 42.
 Parma kept their lead for most of the fourth with Weiser slowly chipping away at it. With a strong full court press and a few buckets at the free throw line the Wolverines were within three points at 5:53.
 Spencer with a nice steal, dribbled down to the three point line, pulled up releasing a high arcing shot that tied the game at 44.
 The teams went back and forth and it looked like the Panthers were going to pull out the win.
 With 12 seconds remaining, Parma at the free throw line missed the first shot and made the second.
 Parma with a three-point lead, Weiser quickly inbounded the ball, passed it up court to Ray Calley in the corner. Calley quickly shot draining the three-pointer to tie the game at 49 sending the game into overtime.
 In OT both teams played intense defense with neither offense able to score.
 At 2:35 Weiser took the momentum when Haggerty stole the ball taking it the length of the court for a lay-up. Fouled he went to the free throw line where he made both giving Weiser a two-point lead.
 At 1:28 Parma answered with their own steal and lay-in tying the game at 51.
 Weiser became more focused getting multiple defensive stops and slowly added points. With less than a minute to go Weiser held a six-point lead.
 The last 20 seconds were full of action, but the score remained unchanged. Weiser won 57-53.
 Weiser scoring: Spencer 21, Ruiz 12, Willy Shirts 6, Haggerty 6, Kerner 5, Calley 5, Pope 2.