PDT Sports Writer

COLUMBUS - There was a reason North College Hill was a two-time defending state champion.

Damon Butler proved it against Wheelersburg on Friday.

The junior, playing in the shadows of O.J. Mayo and Bill Walker the past two seasons, hit a 3-pointer as time expired in overtime to lead the Trojans past the Pirates 69-66 in a Division III State Semifinal. The win puts North College Hill in the state championship game against No. 1 Findlay Liberty Benton, which beat Cleveland Villa-Angela St. Joseph in the other semifinal 63-56.

The Pirates, who forced overtime on a last-second shot in regulation, had a chance to send the game into a second overtime as Drew Spradlin knocked down two free throws with 4.1 second left to tie the game.

That, however, was just enough time for Butler's heroics.

It was Wheelersburg, however, that got the buzzer beater parade started, when Seth Cowgill hit a shot near the end of the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime.

“I was out there, but I knew that I could make it