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Olentangy Liberty closes on 12-0 run to defeat Grove City in Tip-Off Classic title game

By Jason Morrow, 12/03/16, 6:45PM EST

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Patriots ability to hit the three-ball down the stretch the difference in big win

GROVE CITY, Ohio -- In a game that felt more like a boxing match, featuring a bevy of lead changes and ties, the final minutes of Saturday's Grove City Tip-Off Classic were set up to be a instant classic. 

Olentangy Liberty did not want to wait for the decision, knocking out Grove City with a strong uppercut in the form of a 12-0 run to close out the game, defeating the Greyhounds 66-54 in the championship game on Saturday afternoon.  Senior Ethan Nova and sophomore Ben Roderick led the Patriots in the win, with 18 and 15 points respectively.

Tied at 54 with 2:30 left, Novy hit a three that broke the tie, but with a holding foul on Grove City at the same time, the ball was returned to the Patriots with the basket counting. This time, it would be sophomore Mitch Kershner who stepped up, burying a corner three that extended the lead to six, in the span of just 15 seconds. 

Grove City led for a majority of the middle two quarters, as senior Isaiah Dewberry was a force all over the floor, scoring 18 of his game-high 20 points in the middle two quarters. Despite trailing 16-10 after the opening frame, the Greyhounds locked down the Patriots in the second quarter, and went on a 17-6 run in the frame. 

That run would be stopped just before the buzzer for the half, as Nick Nakasian banked in a half-court shot to cut the lead to just two at 27-25 as the teams headed to the locker room.

Roderick would step up in a big way to start the second half for the Patriots, scoring all 15 points of his points in the final two quarters, 12 of which came in the third quarter. The sophomore was able to score it from inside and out, helping carry the load with Novy, who had a game-high six threes.

With the win, Olentangy Liberty moves on to play rival Olentangy Orange on Friday to open up OCC-Buckeye play.

Grove City will look to get back to its winning ways on Friday at Lancaster to being OCC-Ohio division play.

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