HS BOYS BASKETBALL >> MERCER COUNTY TOURNAMENT Notre Dame rallies to upset Ewing in OT in semifinals
TRENTON >> The Notre Dame High boys basketball team will be playing for a county championship for the first time in seven years Thursday night — and this might be the most improbable run of all them.
Third-seeded Notre Dame rallied to stun second-seeded Ewing in overtime, 52-51, Wednesday at the CURE Insurance Arena after senior Luke Foley buried the second of two free-throw attempts with 0.4 seconds remaining.
Foley scored all 15 of his points in the second half to match senior big man Stesher Mathelier, who also netted 15 points.
Senior Naire Preston had a game-high 16 points for Ewing, while senior Kenny Rankin added 11 points.
Notre Dame fell behind 19-9 with 4:55 remaining in the second quarter but closed the half on an 8-3 run to pull within striking distance.
The Irish upped their defensive intensity and rebounding down the stretch enough to survive and advance to face either topseeded Trenton or fifthseeded Hamilton West, who faced off late Wednesday night.
Notre Dame will be vying for its fourth title (2016, 2013, 1998).
NOTRE DAME (52)
Croce 2-1-6, Mathelier 6-3-15, Cottrell 3-06, Merluse 2-0-4, Mathis 1-0-2, Kilcomons 1-0-2, Foley 5-3-15, Vlahos 0-2-2. Totals — 20-9-52
EWING (51)
Preston 6-2-16, Rankin 4-3-11, James 3-3-9, Griffin 1-1-3, Cineus 3-0-6, Forrest 3-0-6.
Totals — 20-9-51.
Notre Dame (16-8) 7 10 18 12 5 — 52 Ewing (20-4) 12 10 13 12 4 — 51 3-point goals: Foley 2, Croce (ND), Preston 2 (E).
Notre Dame’s John Merluse (10) puts up a shot past the defense of Ewing’s Kenny Rankin (2) during a Mercer County Tournament boys basketball semifinal game on Wednesday afternoon at CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton.