COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In the fourth matchup between No. 2 (D2) Eastmoor and No. 3 (D2) South in less than a year, for the third-straight time the Warriors came away victorious. Knocking down two game-deciding free throws with two seconds remaining, Eastmoor senior guard Randy Olverson topped off a career-high performance in a 67-65 win for the Warriors.

A game that was controlled by Eastmoor for the majority of the action, South would never allow itself to get behind by more than a few possessions. Despite going into the fourth quarter trailing 50-43, South would claw its way back into the game.

Leading 53-47 with 6:45 to go, Eastmoor would give up a 8-1 run over the next two minutes, as South senior forward Wesley Williams' offensive rebound put back gave the Bulldogs the lead at 55-54 with 4:58 to go. Despite not being able to convert at the line for stretches in the fourth quarter, South was able to attack the offensive glass and create second chance opportunities.

With three lead changes over the next two minutes, South's Williams again scored on an offensive rebound put back, tying the game at 61 with 2:28 to go. Eastmoor's Taevion Kinsey and South's Marcus Johnson would exchange buckets, as the latter tied the game at 63 with 1:45 remaining.

Eastmoor would strike back. A strong drive and assist from Olverson to Stanley Williams gave the Warriors a 65-63 lead with 1:13 remaining. South would retain possession for more than a minute, getting several changes created by its scrappy play on the boards. The final offensive rebound from Wesley Williams resulted in a foul with five seconds to go and South down 65-63.

Williams, in the biggest game yet in his career, calmly knocked down both attempts at the line to tie the game at 65.

On the ensuing inbounds play, all hell broke loose. Olverson caught the pass with a running start and sprinted to the sideline. South attempted to trap Olverson, as Johnson made minimal contact with the senior Eastmoor guard. Calling a blocking foul, the officials put Olverson at the line with two seconds remaining and the game in the balance.

In his first big-time City League game since transferring to Eastmoor from Gahanna, Olverson proved he had ice in his veins, knocking down both attempts and putting the Warriors on top for the final time. A 3/4 court heave from South sophomore guard Taquan Simington missed wide left, as Eastmoor survived an absolute thriller in front of a sell out crowd.

Olverson played the best basketball of his career, finishing with an all-time high of 22 points, including a game-high six assists. Olverson scored or assisted on the last nine points for the Warriors, as the 5-foot-7 guard made the biggest plays of the game during crunch time.

Kinsey added 18 points, five rebounds and four emphatic dunks for Eastmoor. Missing a large chunk of the fourth quarter due to foul trouble, Kinsey's absence allowed South to attack the Warriors on the boards during the Bulldogs' rally.

Stanley Williams added eight points for Eastmoor, while seniors Isaiah Hairston finished with seven points. Senior forward Tariq Brown took awhile to get going offensively, but finished strong with five points and a game-high seven rebounds. Williams' twin brother Stephan Williams added five points and four rebounds off the bench, while senior guard Tripp Hopkins added a game-high four assists in limited action.

For South, junior guard Tre Watkins set the tone offensively in both halves, finishing with 17 points. Watkins kept Eastmoor on its toes, finishing several tough drives at the rim through contact. Wesley Williams played the best game of his career, adding 16 points and six major rebounds, four of which on the offensive glass.

Sophomore wing Marcus Johnson added 10 points, six of which in the fourth quarter run for the Bulldogs. Senior guard Naiquan Galloway added eight points, but was limited for large chunks due to foul trouble. Senior forward Jeremiah Green added seven points, in addition to plenty of tough defense.

While only scoring two points, the sophomore guar Simington was a burst of instant energy for South, as his aggression and athleticism on the drive gave the Bulldogs a missing element in the backcourt. Look for Simington to play more meaningful minutes going forward for South, as he showed an ability to affect the game on both ends.

With the win, Eastmoor takes control of the City League South division. In control of its own destiny, the Warriors can stake claim of sole possession of first place in the division on Friday at No. 2 (D3) Africentric on Friday. 

For South, the Bulldogs suffer its first regular season loss in December since 2015. South will look to get back to its winning ways on Friday at West.