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WEIRTON -- As the famous cliche says, "it is hard to beat one team three times in one season."
The saying proved true once again Tuesday night as the Madonna and Valley boys basketball teams met for the third time this season.
The Blue Dons -- winners of the first two meetings ---led the Lumberjacks by 11 points late in the second quarter. Valley battled back, and the No. 3 seed pulled within one point three times in the second half, however, Madonna – the No. 2 seed – did not let the Lumberjacks get over the hump as the Blue Dons pulled away down the stretch for a 62-50 victory inside the Dube Dome in an OVAC Class 1A Tournament Semifinal.
"I'm happy, happy, happy," Madonna (11-7) head coach George Vargo said. "This is the first time in three years the Blue Dons have made the OVAC Championship Game. We are glad to represent the single-A division along with our school and our community."
After trailing, 29-18, late in the first half, the Lumberjacks began cutting into the Blue Dons' lead. Valley clawed its way back to within one point three times – 29-28, 37-36 and 42-41, but the visitors from Pine Grove were unable to get over the hump and complete the comeback.
"It just seemed like we gave up too many second and third shots in the second half," Valley (11-7) head coach John Kocher said. "They would miss, and we could not get the rebound. I think in the last five minutes, we missed some shots, and they went down and capitalized."
With the boys from Wetzel County unable to make shots, the boys in black were forced to foul, and the hosts converted 10-of-14 shots from the free-throw line in the fourth to pull away and secure the victory.
"I was happy with our foul shooting at the end of the game," Vargo said. "Coach (Michael) Battista changed our defense in the fourth quarter. Coach Michael (Hagg) kept his composure with the kids. He was able to keep them calm. Our two younger coaches – Giovanni Lenhart and Dom Mazur – did a good job. Coach Mazur gave me some advice on the bench. My coaching staff did a great job. It wasn't just me. I applaud my coaching staff."
With the win, Madonna will play No. 1 seed Cameron in the championship game at 6 p.m. Saturday out at Harrison Central. Cameron advanced to the final by defeating No. 4 seed Trinity Christian, 47-41, Tuesday night at home in the other semifinal.
The Blue Dons have defeated the Dragons twice this season. Madonna defeated Cameron, 68-32, in the first meeting Jan. 10 on the road before winning, 53-50, in the second meeting Jan. 31 at home.
The Blue Dons last won the tournament title in 2017 as Madonna defeated Wellsville, 65-62, down at Ohio University-Eastern.
With the loss, Valley will play Trinity Christian Friday night at home in the consolation final.
Madonna defeated Valley twice this season going into the semifinals.
"It wasn't a three-game series," Vargo said. "It was one game. Like the old Brooke coach uses to say we wanted to go 1-0. It was a one-game series, not three."
After falling behind by 11, Valley tallied a 10-0 run to pull within 29-28. The Lumberjacks had two chances to take the lead, however, they were unable to capitalize on their opportunities. After the visitors closed to within 37-36, the hosts countered with a five-point possession to extend its lead to 42-36. Finally, Valley trailed 42-41 after three quarters of play. The Lumberjacks forced a turnover on the Blue Dons' first possession of the final quarter, however, a traveling violation wiped away the go-ahead basket keeping the home team out in front.
Madonna ended up outscoring Valley, 20-9, in the fourth en route to the win.
"We had to foul," Kocher said. "Madonna is a good foul shooting team. That is why they have won 11 games. We had to foul."
The Blue Dons delivered a balanced attack offensively as five players scored at least eight points on the night – three of which produced double digits. Individually, Anthony Mascio scored a team-high 15 points to lead the way, while Luke Amaismeier and Luca Muzzi each collected 14. Also, Chase Littleton netted nine points, and Santa DoBraska recorded eight.
Madonna 62, Valley 50
Valley 12 10 19 9 – 50
Madonna 14 15 13 20 – 62
VALLEY (11-7): Preat 1 2-2 4, Higginbotham 4 3-3 14, Stackpole 1 0-0 2, Derby 5 3-4 16, Anderson 1 2-2 4, Jerico 4 0-0 10, Kennedy 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 16 10-11 50.
MADONNA (11-8): Amaismeier 5 2-2 14, Mascio 6 2-2 15, S. DoBraksa 2 3-4 8, Miller 0 0-0 0, Muzzi 6 2-3 14, Gontas 0 0-0 0, Littleton 6 2-3 14, Connors 1 0-0 2, A. DoBraska 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 24 10-16 62.
3-POINTERS: Valley 8 (Higginbotham 3, Derby 3, Jerico 2); Madonna 4 (Amaismeier 2, Mascio, S. DoBraska)