Boys basketball: R.J. Walgate gets milestone basket, but Medina Christian falls in overtime

R.J. Walgate made a free throw with 7:14 remaining in regulation to join the 1,000-point club, but the point forward would have traded the accomplishment for a win. The Medina Christian boys basketball team drove more than 100 minutes home Saturday night, pondering the what-ifs after surrendering a 10-point, second-half lead and falling to East Liverpool 50-49 in overtime at historic Potter Fieldhouse. The much-improved Knights (7-3) struggled over the final six minutes of the slow-paced non-league game, as their man defense wore down, their otherwise stout rebounding failed them and their once-hot shooting went cold. The loss also spoiled a homecoming for coach Rob Walgate, a 1995 East Liverpool graduate and an assistant coach for the 1999 Division I state semifinalist team that was honored before tipoff Saturday. "It was awesome," R.J. Walgate said. "It was definitely a full-circle moment to (reach 1,000 points) in a place obviously where my dad grew up hooping and with so many family members there. To see them there was an amazing feeling. I'm thankful for the for the memories The Lord has given me." R.J. Walgate scored 16 of his game-high 22 points after halftime, when Medina Christian was outscored by the Potters (6-4) 30-21. The 6-foot-7 junior appeared to save the Knights from the brink of collapse by scoring seven straight points in the third quarter, including an elbow jumper that moved his career scoring total to 999 points. Less than a minute into the fourth, Walgate caught the ball in the corner, drove into the paint and jump-stopped before drawing a shooting foul. With the entire Medina Christian bench on its feet in anticipation of the moment, Walgate nailed the first free throw yet was far more worried about setting up the defense for the next possession rather than joining the celebration. Walgate, who requested his father not call timeout for the accomplishment to be announced, now has 1,008 points, becoming the 48th documented Medina County boys player to reach 1,000 in OHSAA competition. "I had a feeling, but once the ball went in the hoop I asked my dad what defense we were in," he said. "I wanted to accomplish the task that was at hand." Nick Malicoat (12 points) made three 3-pointers against a 3-2 zone in the first quarter to help the Knights roar to a 17-11 lead and Sam Dorman was outstanding throughout with nine points, 12 rebounds, five blocks and two assists. The Knights led by three possessions for most of the second and third quarters, including a high watermark of 36-26 during Walgate's surge. Momentum slowly began to unravel, as East Liverpool rode physical center Dre'Kiem Abercrombie (17 points, 8 rebounds) and certified chucker Javan Dawson (18 points, 5-of-11 3-pointers) back into contention. A wild final minute of regulation saw the Potters miss a reverse layup and commit a traveling violation sandwiched around a Medina Christian turnover, while Dorman's 3-pointer at the buzzer was off the mark. In OT, the Knights' first five possessions resulted in three turnovers and two missed 3-pointers. East Liverpool kept the door open with poor free throw shooting and an ill-advised shot up 50-47 that was rejected by Dorman, but Isaac Maletich's 3-pointer in the closing seconds was off the mark and Walgate soared over a defender for a tip-in while trying in vein to draw a miracle foul as time expired. "R.J. has been going to that gym since he was 2 or 3 years old to watch those games," Rob Walgate said. "He asked, 'Do you think I'll ever play there?' I didn't know, but me and the former coach (Nate Conley) started talking a few years ago, and this happened to come to fruition. I said, 'Let's do it.' "As high school coaches, it's our job in this game of life to find a way to make kids comfortable in uncomfortable situations. I wanted to put them in uncomfortable situations where they're not ready and get them comfortable. That's what life is all about." Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com. East Liverpool 50, Medina Christian 49 (OT) MEDINA CHRISTIAN 17 11 10 7 4 — 49 EAST LIVERPOOL 11 9 12 13 5 — 50 Medina Christian — Maddox Tousley 0-0-0, Nick Malicoat 4-0-12, Sam Dorman 4-1-9, Isaac Maletich 2-1-6, R.J. Walgate 8-3-22, Preston Collins 0-0-0, Jaxon Longsdorf 0-0-0. TOTALS: 18-5-49. East Liverpool — Jayce Douglas 1-1-3, Elliott Fitch 0-0-0, Dre'Kiem Abercrombie 7-3-17, Nolan Irving 3-1-7, Dre Brown 1-0-2, Tyler Kirby 1-1-3, Javan Dawson 6-1-18, Ben Myers 0-0-0, Gio Surace 0-0-0, Meshach Harris 0-0-0. TOTALS: 19-7-50. 3-point goals — Malicoat 4, Walgate 3, Maletich, Dawson 5. Rebounds — Medina Christian 30 (Dorman 12), East Liverpool 26 (Abercrombie 8). Assists — Medina Christian 11 (Dorman, Tousley 3), East Liverpool 8 (Brown, Douglas, Irving 2). Records — Medina Christian (7-3), East Liverpool (6-4).