COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A sigh of relief can be exhaled from the St. Charles locker room. The Cardinals watched a Westerville Central three point attempt fall short at the buzzer and secured a 41-39 victory at Ohio Dominican as part of the Battle in the 614 showcase.

In a game where St. Charles never trailed, the end couldn't come soon enough for the Cardinals. The Warhawks rallied from a 17-point second-half deficit and got within one point on two separate possessions in the final minute. Westerville Central outscored St. Charles 24-9 in the final 12 minutes and had an opportunity to take their a lead on the final possession of the game. 

With seven seconds left, St. Charles senior Chase Walker made one of the two attempts at the line to give the Cardinals a two point advantage. The Warhawks quickly inbounded and found junior Nick Patton open for a three point attempt, but which fell shy of the rim as time expired. 

St. Charles was led by Walker, a commit to Illinois State, who had a game high 19 points, five rebounds and three assists. He was one of only three Cardinals to score, joined by fellow seniors Zach Auletta and George Mosholder who had 12 and 10 points, respectively. 

For most of the game, Westerville Central seemed to lack much of an offensive pulse, as they were held to under 20 points until late in the third. They found some life, with a comeback that was mostly sparked by junior Devin Martin, who hit three triples in the second half, including a snipe in the final 45 seconds of regulation to bring the Warhawks within one. Martin finished with a team high 13 points.

No other Warhawk scored in double digits, as Patton was next with eight points. Five different players scored five or less. 

Westerville Central (8-5) had won four straight until Saturday night's defeat. They'll hope to rebound when they host Pickerington North on Friday in a must win for their OCC Ohio hopes to stay alive. 

After starting the season 2-6, St. Charles (8-6) has now won sixth straight and appear to have found some momentum. They will try to make it seven straight when they visit league rival Bishop Watterson on Friday.

For a further breakdown of Saturday's contest, check out the 5 Keys To The Game:

1. Build It Up, Break It Down: St. Charles mostly won Saturday night's game due to their production during the middle of the contest. A run that began in the second quarter and continued midway through the third, the Cardinals built a 17 point lead and looked firmly in control. At one point during the third, Walker had more points individually than the entire Warhawks team. Yet as quickly as the lead grew, the Cardinals nearly gave it all away in a matter of minutes. The Warhawks defensive intensity picked up as they also began to hit timely shots. The Cardinals had trouble keeping possession and an array of turnovers allowed Westerville Central cut the deficit. The Warhawks could have helped their case had they not missed a couple free throws down the stretch, but ultimately had a chance with a final look at the end, but could not take advantage.

2. Three's Company: It's not often you can win a game when only three players from your roster score, but the Cardinals were able to make it happen against Central. Walker once again cannot be stopped, only contained, and bullied his way to 19 points. Auletta and Mosholder made clutch shots beyond the arc, with both connecting on a pair of threes. Yet this type of exclusivity is most likely not sustainable and the Cardinals seem to take whatever they can get from an offensive standpoint. They also showed some struggles with ball handling against the press. But credit for hitting the shots they did and also for a solid defensive team effort.

3. Martin's Momentum: Although the comeback run came just short, the two-way effort and drive from junior Devin Martin was noteworthy. Son of Warhawks head coach Kevin Martin, Devin had a competitive motor that allowed him to maintain an edge all game. His timely scoring and defensive pressure were the main factors that helped the Warhawks to trim the deficit. I'll have more on him in the upcoming Prospect Scouting Report, but I don't think there was a player that wanted to win more than Martin did on Saturday night.

4. Here Come the Cards?: As mentioned earlier in the article, the Cardinals have now won six straight after they had a challenging 2-6 start to the season. For a team that was in the district finals last season and plays a large group of seniors, expectations are high for the Cardinals. Having an all-district player like Walker gives the St. Charles a helpful advantage, but they are now looking the part of a team that is becoming more and more confident. There are still some concerns with the offense as a whole, but the Cardinals are finding ways to win and that's what is important.

5. What's Next for the Warhawks?: Martin was a bright spot and a handful of players had various moments of positivity. Most of Central's production came at the hands of the underclassmen, which goes to show that the Warhawks are still relatively young and adapting to their roles. Yet on Saturday, the offensive talent as a whole was not much to speak for and it may have taken too long for the team to collectively find their next gear. That said, the Warhawks so far have appeared to shown areas of improvement from last season. They have an upcoming competitive six-game stretch that could help preview how this team may fare come tournament time.

MVP: Chase Walker (St. Charles senior center, 19 points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks)

Lead Scorer: Walker

Hustle Player of the Game: Zach Auletta (St. Charles senior guard, 12 points, four rebounds, two steals)