The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Keystone survives in overtime thriller
Wildcats win first district championship since 2011
CORTLAND >> Overtime in the Division III Northeast 1 District championship game was not ideal for Keystone, as it conceded a game-tying basket from Columbiana Crestview’s Luvrain Gaskins at the end of regulation.
With the opportunity to win its first district championship on the line, the Wildcats regrouped, made shots against tough defense and held on for a 40-33 win on March 3 in a battle of two undefeated teams.
“We had to step on the gas pedal and pick it up,” Keystone’s Jessica Forthofer said. “We started scoring back-toback buckets. We finally got the lead. We knew that we had to pick it up, especially into overtime. This is our game, and we wanted to finish it.”
Keystone advanced to the Division III Stow Regional semifinal and will play top-seed Warrensville Heights, which defeated (8) Cuyahoga Heights, 46-35, in the Division III Northeast 3 District championship game. It will be played March 6.
“We kept our composure and fought through it. We never got down on ourselves and we were able to push through,” Keystone’s Vivian Cassell said.
Cassell led the charge with 13 points, six rebounds and two steals. As the score was 31-31 to start overtime. Cassell broke the ice with the first basket and was followed up by an and-1 from Forthofer.
She made her mark in the second half and overtime to score all her points. This was after an uncharacteristic 11-2 start unraveled to be tied, 13-13, at halftime.
“I told Viv (Cassell) that she could beat them left,” Coach Rocky Houston said. “Jessica (Forthofer) was getting the other one out of the way. If you get to the rim on that left side and you miss it, Jessica is going to get the rebound. She beat them left and didn’t miss.”
Cassell and Forthofer also made shots to tie the score at 29-29 and take a lead prior to Gaskins shot to force overtime.
Keystone had experience in close games, one of which was the 48-43 Division III Northeast 1 District semifinal win over Rootstown and two thrillers against Columbia. Cassell thought the experience played a role.
“Our game against Columbia, we were in overtime as well and we came out on top. I felt like we had more experience (in close games) than what Crestview had during their regular season,” she said.
At time’s Crestview’s defense seemed impenetrable, as Keystone scored four points in the fourth quarter and two in the second. Yet, when it mat