Port Clinton recovers to top Clyde

Clyde struggled early Tuesday, but regrouped with a flurry in the fourth quarter.

Ben Mueller, however, forced overtime with two free throws as visiting Port Clinton defeated the Fliers 56-52 in the Sandusky Bay Conference.

Clyde (5-13, 3-6) trailed 37-21 after three quarters before Conner Long scored 12 of the Fliers' 22 points in the fourth quarter. The Redskins led 35-18 after a bucket from Ryan Alexander in the third quarter but Clyde took its first lead at 42-41 with a basket from Long with 1:10 left in regulation.

Mueller made two free throws for a 43-43 tie with 9.6 seconds left in regulation.

"I had to make both," Mueller said. "We turned it over like five times early in the fourth and they hit some 3s. Stay positive and don't let them speed the game up. We had to make free throws. We had to keep playing at our pace. We're trying to play our best basketball (heading into tournament play)."

Long had eight points as Clyde outscored Port Clinton 17-2 to start the fourth. Tanner Davenport, who made two straight 3-pointers in the second quarter, added six points during the spurt.

"It just took a couple turnovers and a couple 3s and we played with more confidence," Clyde coach Lou Garcia said. "In the fourth quarter, they were fun to watch. A couple shots went down and my team started to have fun. (Davenport) got us going. When it's fun again, anything can happen."

Tytan Rumball canned a 3 and Mueller cut and scored off a pass from Joey Brenner for a 48-43 lead in overtime. Port Clinton led by at least two thereafter.

"In the last year and a half, we've had teams come back and didn't prevail," Redskins coach Von Graffin said. "We did what we needed to do in overtime. They got a spree and made it tough. For these guys to respond, I was pleased."

Mueller and Brenner each had four points as Port Clinton led 11-2 after one quarter. The Redskins (9-10, 6-4) allowed nine points in the first half.

Mueller scored a team-high 18 points while Brenner added 17.

"We have to go through (Brenner)," Graffin said of Port Clinton's offense. "They did a good job making it difficult. (Mueller) rebounds, gets run-outs and he's competitive. His growth has been tremendous from JV last year. His maturation and development have been big for us. On top of the scoring and defense, he's winning 50/50 balls and making plays."

Rieman had a game-high 23 points despite box-and-1 treatment and Davenport added 17.

mhorn@gannett.com

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Twitter:@MatthewHornNH

STAT BOOK

Port Clinton 11-12-14-6-13-56

Clyde 2-7-12-22-9-52

Port Clinton: 3-point goals: 2. Scoring: Kaleb Mizener 2-0-4, Ben Mueller 7-4-18, Ryan Alexander 4-0-8, Tytan Rumball 1-2-5, Matt Paeth 1-1-4, Joey Brenner 5-7-17. Totals 20-14-56.

Clyde: 3-point goals: 5. Scoring: Conner Long 4-1-9, Tanner Davenport 5-3-17, Zach Rieman 6-11-23, Seth Hohman 1-0-3. Totals 16-15-52.