RICHMOND — The latest installment of the longtime rivalry between the Indian Creek girls’ basketball team and Edison will go down as an instant classic.

The rivalry between the third-seeded Redskins and second-seeded Wildcats was renewed following a brief hiatus, and the two rivals battled it with the decisive moment coming with no time left on the clock.

Indian Creek led by 12 points with 2:33 left to play in the third quarter, however, Edison staged a furious comeback as the Wildcats trailed by just two points with 3.3 fateful seconds showing on the scoreboard clock. Edison missed the second of two foul shots, however, it was able to grab the offensive rebound as time ticked away. The Wildcats beat the buzzer with a shot, however, the iron was unkind as the ball bounced off the rim preventing the team’s second buzzer-beater of the half allowing the Redskins to escape with a 49-47 victory in an OVAC Class 4A Tournament Semifinal Monday night in front of a packed house in the old gym at Edison.

“What an atmosphere,” Indian Creek (15-4) head coach Steve Eft head coach said. “The atmosphere was unbelievable. The fans showed up. It was a great high school basketball game. I’m just glad our girls were able to escape here with a win.”

After falling behind by 12, the hosts outscored the visitors, 21-11, the rest of the way, but they were unable to complete the comeback at the buzzer.

The loss knocked the Wildcats from the ranks of the unbeaten.

“It was a great game,” Edison (17-1) head coach Mark Smyth.

With the win, Indian Creek will take on No. 4 seed Oak Glen in the tournament final at 6 p.m. Saturday at the ECO Center down in St. Clairsville. Oak Glen defeated No. 1 seed Union Local in the other semifinal Monday night.

The game will be a rematch of last year’s final which the Redskins won, 65-46. Indian Creek has won three straight tournament titles.

“We are going to enjoy this win tonight, and then we are going to get ready for Saturday. I told the girls to enjoy this win tonight and we are going to get focused again tomorrow. We have a chance to win four straight OVAC titles. We have a chance to do something really special.”

The Red-and-Gold led 26-25 at halftime before starting the third on a 12-1 run to build a 38-26 advantage. The Wildcats beat the buzzer to end the third as the hosts closed to within 40-33 entering the fourth.

The visitors delivered a three-point play to take a 47-37 lead before the Wildcats staged a furious comeback attempt.

A 3-pointer by Lacie Pelley pulled Edison to within 49-44 with 2:22 left to play in the game. The score remained the same for more than 1 minute and 40 seconds as the Wildcats got to the free-throw line with 48.2 seconds remaining to be played.

Unfortunately for them, they were unable to convert on either attempt, however, they were able to corral the offensive rebound leading to another foul with this one coming with 45 seconds left to play. Edison had a second chance to draw closer, however, they were unable to convert on either opportunity keeping their deficit at five points.

The Wildcats were able to get the ball back, and the home team was fouled once again. This time, Edison converted both of its chances from the charity stripe to pull within 49-46 with 31.7 seconds remaining.

Edison was forced to foul, and the Wildcats sent the Redskins to the foul line with 12.4 seconds still to play. This time, it was the girls in red who were unable to convert from the line, and the home team pulled down the rebound and called a timeout with 9.7 seconds left to set up a final play.

The Wildcats wanted to go for the 3 and the tie, however, the shot was not there and they were forced to drive toward the basket. As the seconds ticked off the clock, the Redskins were called for another foul sending Edison back to the line with 3.3 seconds left on the clock.

“We wanted to try and get the 3,” Smyth said. “We were able to get fouled, but we wanted to get a look at a 3. We came off a screen, and they did a good job. They were able to jump it. We were not able to get what we wanted, but we were able to get to the line. You don’t get to really practice the missed foul shot and get the offensive rebound. We missed the foul shot, the ball came off right where we wanted it to go, the shot just didn’t go in. I just could not be more proud of these girls. They played great.”

The Wildcats made the first and missed the second, however, the putback did not drop allowing Indian Creek to hold on for the victory.

“Our girls are resilient,” Smyth said. “I could not be more proud of them. They played hard. Indian Creek is a good team. They are well coached. I think if we played 10 times, it would be 5-5.”

Indian Creek expected Edison to try and go for a 3 in an attempt to tie the game.

“We wanted to try and take away the 3,” Eft said. “We wanted to foul them before they got into the paint, but we were unable to do so. We did enough to escape with the win. I am proud of them for that.”

Gracie Klinesmith tallied a game-high 22 points to lead the way offensively for the Redskins, while Kaydence Walker recorded 15.

Pelley produced a team-high 15 points for Edison, while Abby Carpenter collected nine.

“We scouted them,” Eft said. “We watched them. They did what we thought they would do. You cannot really replicate that in practice. They have a nice team. They like to press.

“Our girls executed the gameplan. They stayed in control. That was the big key. We did not rebound well, but I am proud of the girls. They emptied the tank. When they came off the court, they had nothing left in the tank. That is what we ask them to do.

“We have had some bad fourth quarters in some of our losses, but the girls stepped up tonight. That is a testament to them. I am super proud of them.”

The victors led 12-9 at the end of the first quarter. The Silver-and-Black outscored the Redskins, 16-14, in the second to close to within 26-25 at halftime.

The game was back-and-forth until Indian Creek ripped off its big run in the third to go up by 12.

“We settled in, and we attacked the zone,” Eft said about what led to his team’s surge in the third. “The girls followed the gameplan. They did a heck of a job. Give Edison credit. They fought back. We knew they would make a run. I wouldn’t expect anything different from a team coached by Mark. They showed a lot of fight. They did a really good job.”

“The fourth quarter has not been kind, but our girls did a really good job tonight. They did everything we asked, and they were able to close the game out. I could not be prouder of them. We did enough to get the win.”

The Redskins came out and attacked to start the second half.

“They did a really good job,” Smyth said. “They worked the ball against the zone. They were able to get some good looks. They are a good team. They are well coached. They did what they were supposed to against the zone. It was a good game.”

The night turned to be a happy homecoming for Eft, who is an Edison graduate.

“There were a lot of emotions tonight coming back into this gym and playing Edison,” Eft said. “I am just happy we were able to get the win. What a great high school basketball game. It was a great atmosphere. The fans were great. This what rivalry games are all about.”

Indian Creek teacher, athletic director and boys’ basketball coach Joe Dunlevy remains on the thoughts of all the Redskins’ players and coaches.

“We’re still praying,” Eft said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. We are hoping for the best. We are going to continue to pray for him and his family for a full recovery. He is going to remain in thoughts and our prayers.”

Dunlevy was recently discharged from the hospital and has been transferred to a skilled care to continue his treatment.

“I have got nothing but respect for Coach D,” Smyth said. “He is a great guy. Edison and Indian Creek is a big rivalry, but you can’t help to love the guy. We’re all hoping he is able to make a full recovery.”

Edison is scheduled to play Cameron Wednesday night on the road.

OVAC Class 4A Semifinals

Indian Creek 49, Edison 47

Indian Creek 12 14 14 9 – 49

Edison 9 16 8 14 – 47

INDIAN CREEK (15-4): Walker 6 0-2 15, Taylor 1 0-0 2, Wiley 0 0-0 0, Sadler 3 0-1 6, Klinesmith 8 6-7 22, Crouch 2 0-0 4. TOTALS: 20 6-10 49.

EDISON (17-1): Boka 2 3-7 7, Pelley 6 0-2 15, H. Casto 0 0-0 0, Carpenter 3 3-4 9, Henderson 2 0-0 4, Koehnlein 0 0-0 0, Glover 3 0-0 6, Ault 1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 16 6-14 47.

3-POINTERS: Indian Creek 3 (Walker 3); Edison 3 (Pelley 3)