HILLIARD, Ohio -- It took every minute of regulation and nearly every second of overtime, but Olentangy Liberty survived a late Hilliard Bradley push and outlasted the Jaguars 52-49, a pivotal win that guarantees the Patriots at least a share of the OCC Central championship.

Liberty looked every bit the better team throughout the first half, as they outscored Bradley 16-6 in the second period, good for a 31-17 lead into halftime. 

The Jaguars would quickly dispel any notion of a comfortable Patriots lead when early into the third period, they came out on a 6-0 run, led behind their top scorer, junior Cade Norris.

Norris seemed to take matters into his own hands and assumed a dominant offensive role each trip. His nine points in the third quarter matched his first half output and was an indication to Liberty that they'd have to find a way to stop him in order to maintain a lead.

By far the primary scorer, Norris also played the role of distributor and found junior Ian Abrass in the corner for Abrass' fourth three of the game to trim the Patriots lead to 43-40 with just over three minutes in regulation. That score would hold until the final ten seconds, when Norris missed a three point attempt, but a Jaguars offensive rebound gave him another look as he buried from deep on his next try to tie the game.

Despite the Jaguars momentum, Liberty was able to settle down and got out to a five point lead in overtime. The Patriots took care of the ball and most importantly, finished at the foul line as they went a perfect six-for-six on their attempts. Beyond another Norris three-pointer and a late old-fashioned three-point play from Abrass, the Jaguars couldn't muster much offense and had their comeback effort fall short.

As what's been the case all season for the Patriots, coach Greg Nossaman received an all-out balanced team effort. Senior Matt Wilson led Liberty in points with 15, all from behind the arc, while sophomore Tyler Kropp finished with 12 points and four blocks. 

Seniors Alex Okuley, James Hummell and Jackson Mikola made significant impacts on both ends, highlighted with their commitment to defense and unselfish play. Hummell and Mikola both had four assists, while Okuley scored eight of his ten points in the second half and grabbed a team high five rebounds.

For the Jaguars, Norris either scored or assisted on nearly every made basket. The Division I collegiate prospect finished with a game high 29 points and had six of Bradley's seven assists. Abrass added support with his 14 points, which left just five points scored amongst two other Jaguars.

The win for the Patriots (17-2, 8-0) guarantees at least a share of the OCC Central title. A win next Friday at Hilliard Davidson would clinch an outright championship. Liberty will first have to take on Marysville on Saturday.

While the Jaguars (12-5, 5-3) are officially eliminated for league title contention, they'll have a good team test against Lima Senior on Saturday at Ottawa Glendorf.

For a further recap on Friday's overtime thriller, check out the 5 Keys To The Game:

1. Strength in Numbers: While the score indicated an even battle, which by all means it was, the Patriots victory proved that they are ultimately the deeper and more well-rounded team. Two players scored all but five points for the Jaguars whereas the Patriots had relatively even distribution amongst their five starters. Liberty has a good mix of athletes that can play multiple positions and with the continued elevated play from 6'8 sophomore Tyler Kropp, the Patriots now have a significant post presence. Coach Nossaman once again has a team committed to defense with a brand of unselfishness, as Mikola and Hummell in particular did a great job of finding an open teammate. If you look at the other top teams in the district, most of them have a distinct lead player. That's not the case for the Patriots, who glorify the committee approach. 

2. Super Cade: The Patriots had more well-rounded play, but the Jaguars junior stood out more than anyone else. Every bit the competitor, Norris understood for Bradley to win, he'd have to take over. And he just about pulled it off. Norris showed no hesitation in his offensive attack and successfully would make trips to the foul line, where he hit seven-of-eight attempts. He also showed patience going through his motions in his pull-up jumpers and an ability to hit from deep on his four three-pointers, none no bigger than the one that forced overtime. He controlled the ball, but still effectively found an open teammate that resulted in six assists, which could have been higher. I'll have more on Norris' play and his projection at the next level in the upcoming Prospect Scouting Report, but even in defeat, he delivered a special performance.

3. Licensed To Shoot (Threes): Some hot shooting was on display from individuals on both teams Friday night. No one was better than Liberty's Matt Wilson, who started the game perfect on his first three long-range attempts as he finished with five total makes. For Bradley, both Norris and Abrass connected on four clips from deep. Come tournament time, efficiency beyond the arc is a major factor towards a strong postseason run. Shooting performances like this can be a major boost.

4. Defensive Standouts: Although the Patriots can score in a variety of ways, they're at their best on the defensive end. On Friday, Liberty did a fantastic job of pressuring the Jaguars and creating clean steals that turned into easy transition points. They were stubborn in the post, as Kropp looks the part of a quality rim protector as he led with four blocks. Mikola is a sneaky good athlete that snagged two steals and had an impressive block from behind on Norris. Hummell and Okuley are solid all-around athletes which usually translates well on the defensive end. Teams in the tournament will need a solid offensive game plan against the Patriots, as their ability to defend is a big reason why they're 17-2.

5. Bracketology: Although there's still two weeks of regular season play, the district bracket will be revealed on Sunday. On Friday, not only did the Patriots secure at least a share of the league title, they also all but wrapped up a guaranteed top seed in the district tournament. Liberty could realistically be anywhere from a one to a three seed and have absolutely earned an ability to control their destiny. Meanwhile, I expect Bradley to fall somewhere in the 5-10 seed range and probably closer to five than ten. That means the Jaguars will most likely not be the top-ranked team in their bracket, but should have a legitimate opportunity to make a district final. 

MVP: James Hummell (Olentangy Liberty senior guard with eight points, four assists and three rebounds)

Top Scorer: Cade Norris (Hilliard Bradley junior wing with 29 points)

Hustle Player of the Game: Jackson Mikola (Olentangy Liberty senior wing with five points, four assists, two steals, two rebounds and a block)