JOHNSONBURG, Pa. – Hunter Craddock hit two free throws with 0.6 of a second left in overtime to lift Clarion to its first District 9 championship since 2003 with a 58-56 extra-session win at Johnsonburg Tuesday night.
Johnsonburg had tied the game with 13 seconds left on a pair of Ethan Wells free throws.
But Clarion got the ball to Craddock under the hoop as time wound down, and the senior was fouled as he took a last-second shot.
Clarion led by six, 25-19, at halftime but trailed by 37-33 at the end of the third quarter.
The Bobcats then took a 48-45 lead in the final two minutes of regulation.
But four consecutive missed free throws by Cal German opened the door for the Rams, who tied the game on a 3-pointer by Eric Christoff with about 38 seconds left.
In a back-and-forth overtime, a Cam Stelene putback put Johnsonburg ahead 54-53 with around two minutes to play before a German three put Clarion up 56-54.
The Bobcats then got a five-second violation on an inbounds play. But Beau Verdill missed two free throws with 28.1 left to keep Johnsonburg alive.
Wells then tied the game for the Rams before Craddock won it for Clarion.
German scored 30 to lead the Bobcats. Stelene had 20 for Johnsonburg.
Clarion will host Bishop Carroll in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs Friday.
Brian Hagberg will have much more on this game, including a video interview with Craddock, and game highlights later tonight.
