By BRET BEVENS

PDT Sports Writer

RICHMONDALE — The one thing that was certain is that the Tigers would be moving on to to the district tournament in Athens. The question: would it be the Tigers from Waverly High School or the Tigers from Greenfield McClain High School?

McClain capped off a come-from-behind victory in overtime to defeat Waverly 42-39 and capture a Division II Sectional Championship.

“We shot the ball so horribly,” McClain coach Rick VanMatre said. “We were 2-for-10 from three in the first half, we couldn’t find the basket from anywhere and luckily our defense kept us in it.”

It was the fourth meeting between the two schools in the Division II Sectional Tournament since 2000.

In 2000, McClain got the better of Waverly on its way to a district crown. In 2002, Waverly upset a higher-seeded squad from Greenfield to capture a sectional title. Most recently in 2007, with now-Xavier University guard Dante Jackson, McClain claimed another sectional title over the orange and black Tigers.

The win takes McClain to 15-6 and advances it to the district semifinals to face the winner of Marietta and Jackson.

The loss ends Waverly’s season at 13-8.

McClain was led by Lucas Polley who had a game-high 18 points, seven coming in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Dalton Detty notched a double-double on the evening with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Waverly was led by sophomore forward Harrison Martin with 17 points and eight rebounds. Derek Roback added 12 points with four boards and dished out three assists.

Waverly stretched out what was a three-point lead at halftime to a 10-point edge through three quarters and looked to be poised for a trip to the Convo.

In the fourth quarter, Waverly only made one field goal and McClain finally found the touch from downtown. For the first time in the contest, McClain scored more than eight points in a quarter.

“Finally some of the 3s started falling (in the second half),” VanMatre said. “Our press gave them a little bit of trouble and our pressure. I think we won the game with guts and defense.”

McClain claimed a 33-32 lead with 1:18 to go in regulation. It was the Purple and Gold’s first lead since it was 6-5 with 4:01 left in the opening quarter. Roback tied the game with a free throw and took the game into an extra session.

In the overtime period, McClain was still feeling it from beyond the arch. McClain went 1 of 2 from the field and 6 of 8 from the stripe in overtime.

“You look at our track record for the whole season the games we lose, we go four, five, six seven minutes without scoring,” Waverly coach Travis Robertson said. “You have to give credit to McClain. Their kids came out prepared, sat down and played defense, boxed out and made plays when they had to make plays to win the game and we didn’t.”

Waverly had two possessions at the end of overtime to try to force another overtime, but committed two costly turnovers.

McClain’s next game will be on Thursday at 6:15 p.m. at the Ohio University’s Convocation Center.

BRET BEVENS can be reached at (740)-353-3101 ext. 242

Waverly 13 4 12 4 6 — 39

McClain 6 8 5 14 9 — 42

Waverly — Roback 5 1 12, Lundin 0 2 2, Remy 1 0 3, Kretzer 2 0 5, Martin 6 5 17; Totals 14 8 39.

McClain — Ralph 2 1 7, Polley 6 5 18, Gregory 1 0 2, Beatty 1 0 3, Detty 3 4 10, Matracia 0 2 2: Totals 13 12 42.

3-pointers — Waverly 3 (Roback, Remy, Kretzer); McClain 6 (Polley 3, Ralph 2, Beatty)

Record — Waverly 13-8; McClain 15-6