Nakasian’s late free throw helps Liberty turn back New Albany

Nick Nakasian hit the goahead free throw with 1:50 remaining, and it held up as host Olentangy Liberty nipped New Albany 37-36 in a Division I district quarterfinal boys basketball game Friday.

The Eagles (11-13) had two chances to win it. Jalin Jackson missed a runner with seven seconds left. New Albany quickly fouled Liberty’s Ben Roderick, who missed the front end of a one-and-one. Remi Martin missed a 19-foot jumper in the final second.

Roderick paced Liberty (15-8) with 13 points. Martin had 12 for New Albany.

In other Division I action:

Zack Sammeth scored a career-high 27 points and Isaiah Dewberry added 20 to lead host Grove City (12-11) over Olentangy (13-11). The duo combined to make seven three-pointers. Sammeth had 19 of his points in the first half and Dewberry 14 in the second half. Dewberry also had eight rebounds and five blocks. Jason Sieve had 21 points and Sean Marks 17 to lead Olentangy. Tre Williams scored eight of his 15 points in the third quarter, helping host Reynoldsburg (18-6) hold off Walnut Ridge (10-12). The Scots opened the third quarter with a 16-6 run to take a 40-33 lead, but Reynoldsburg responded with a 13-2 run to regain control. Jamiel Goliday added 12 points for the Raiders. Von Cameron Davis scored a game-high 23 points for Walnut Ridge.

Jeremiah Francis scored six of his team-high 16 points in a 33-13 first quarter, and topseeded Pickerington Central (22-2) went on to rout visiting Westland (2-21). Sterling Manley (12 points), Adrian Nelson (11) and Kameron Culp (11) also hit double figures for the Tigers. Deshawn Evans scored 17 points for Westland.

Nick Livingston scored nine of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter, helping host Hilliard Davidson (18-6) pull away for an easy victory over Central Crossing (10-13). Travis Moore added 11 points for the Wildcats, who made 11 of 16 free throws in the fourth quarter. Moore went 6 for 6. Host Pickerington North (18-6) held Logan (10-13) scoreless in the second quarter in coasting to the win. Ty Wiley had 13 points and five assists to pace the Panthers. Dondre Palmer added 12 points and eight rebounds, and Jerome Hunter had 10 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks.