LANCASTER —Circleville and Fairfield Union needed overtime for the second time season. This go-around, it was Fairfield Union coming out on top 53-47.
The Tigers had a 12-9 lead after the first quarter but trailed 21-17 at the half and 30-26 entering the fourth.
Circleville got four points each from Briley Cramer and Slater Search and three-pointers from Preston Hulse and Jack Kline to finish regulation tied up 40-40.
Unlike their meeting in early January where the Tigers prevailed in double overtime, Fairfield Union got the job done in the extra four minutes.
The Falcons got points from four players and went 4-4 at the free throw line to seal the OT win.
“I thought we had a good game plan and our guys did a good job executing,” Circleville coach Cody Carpenter said. “There were moments however we shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers.
“Slater Search played very well leading us with 16 points and 14 rebounds. I thought Drew Thornsley did a really good job on Schmelzer tonight.”
Schmelzer, who scored his 1,000th career point Saturday, had 13. Isiah Delong had 12 for FU while Caleb Redding and Max Stansberry each had nine.
Search’s 16 led Circleville while Briley Cramer had 14 and Preston Hulse had 13.
The Tigers (10-10, 3-9) host Liberty Union Tuesday and wrap up the regular season Friday at Bloom-Carroll.
Fairfield Union 53, Circleville 47 OT
Circleville — Preston Hulse 4-2-13, Briley Cramer 7-0-14, Jack Kline 1-0-3, Slater Search 8-0-16, Ed Kirk 0-1-1. Three-point goals — Hulse (3), Kline. Total — 20-3-47.
Fairfield Union — Koen Eichhorn 1-0-3, Keegan Arnett 3-0-7, Isiah Delong 5-2-12, Caleb Redding 3-1-9, Caleb Schmelzer 5-3-13. Max Stansberry 3-3-9. Three-point goals — Eichhorn, Arnett, Redding (2). Total — 20-9-53.
Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 OT F
Circleville 12 5 9 14 7 47
Fairfield Union 9 12 9 10 13 53
