Indian Creek’s Nishon White attempts a shot. - Andrew Grimm

Wednesday night was no exception.

After trailing by 12 in the second quarter after a big Indian Creek run, the Red Knights chipped away and chipped away until they were the ones on top late in the fourth quarter.

The hosts, however, were not done battling themselves, as Creek tied the game late and forced overtime.

Toronto, however, netted the first six points of the extra period and this time prevents a rally, holding off Creek for a 52-44 overtime victory.

Creek’s Dalton Nickell goes up to shoot past Toronto’s Rebich. - Andrew Grimm

“It’s always a battle between two programs with a lot of respect for one another,” Tucker said. “It always has been a battle, the kids play as hard as they can and bring the best out of one another. It’s always a dog fight.

“We’re banged up right now, we were without one of our guards tonight and had a guy go down with an ankle injury in the first quarter. We’ve talked all year about our guys being resilient, they’ve been battle tested all year and guys have needed to step up and they have.

“Guys stepped up when the game was on the line. Our guys have battled through a really tough schedule this year and I’m really proud of the way they keep fighting and the toughness that they have — not just physical toughness but mental toughness. Playing against a team that plays as hard as Indian Creek does for 32 minutes and having to go to overtime, that comes down to mental toughness … shorthanded, in a dogfight with a team that plays very hard, guys stepping up the way they did shows how strong mentally this group has become.

“It was a great high school basketball game.”

The battle went back and forth all night. The Redskins (4-14) netted the game’s first six points in a low-scoring first quarter, but the Red Knights (16-3) netted the last six — capped by an Austin Buchanan 3 at the buzzer — to make it 6-6 after one.

SPECIAL SHIRTS — Toronto players wore shirts with ‘Coach D Strong” printed on them during warm ups on Wednesday in honor of longtime Indian Creek coach Joe Dunlevy. - Andrew Grimm

Creek then rattled off a 12-0 run to start the second quarter to go up 18-6, but again the Knights came pushing back, Buchanan sinking another 3 as time expired to make it 18-16 at halftime.

Creek senior Evan McGrew hit a pair of 3s to put Creek up six late in the third quarter, but for a third-straight quarter Buchanan drained a triple at the horn to make it a 3-point game going to the fourth.

Buchanan hit another long-range shot to knot the score early in the fourth, and midway through the final quarter the Red Knights took their first lead.

A Brody Winters triple made it a four-point Toronto advantage with under two minutes to play, but Creek was not done.

Nishon White made it a two-point game in the final minute with a put back in the paint, then, after Toronto missed a pair of free throws at the other end, McGrew went to the line with 12.4 seconds left and sunk both shots to knot the score at 40.

Toronto’s Max Rebich pulls up to shoot in front of Creek’s Caden Saffle. - Andrew Grimm

Buchanan, trying for a fourth buzzer beater of the game, had a last-second try bounce out and the game went to OT.

In the extra time, Buchanan scored four of the six on the early run and Toronto did not look back.

“It’s always a fun game,” Indian Creek interim head coach Tommy Winland said. “Sean does a great job with his kids and they play hard and our kids always play hard against them. It’s a fun match up to be a part of. If the ball bounces a different way the first couple possessions of overtime maybe we’re having a different conversation. Our kids played really hard and games like this are going to make us better.”

Buchanan, who is second in OVAC Class 2A in made 3-pointers, finished with five of Toronto’s eight 3s for a game-high 22 points to go with three steals, two rebounds and an assist. Winters tallied 12 points, hitting the other three triples, and pulled down seven rebounds. Colt Joynson tallied nine points and nine rebounds to narrowly miss a double-double.

For Creek, White — who entered the week as the third leading scorer and top rebounder in OVAC Class 4A — netted a team-high 17 points and 19 rebounds for a monster double-double. McGrew followed close behind with 16 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

TO THE HOOP — Toronto’s Colt Joynson puts up a layup past defense from Indian Creek’s Nishon White during Wednesday’s game. - Andrew Grimm

The senior duo leading the way on their senior night was no surprise to Winland.

“I was glad to see them both have good games,” Winland said. “They’re both great kids. We love them as a staff and as as team and we’re getting better as a team because they’re leading the way. They’re great leaders and come from great families.”

OVAC SPOT SOLIDIFIED

Playing for the final time before the OVAC tournament cutoff, Tucker believed the victory Wednesday would be enough to lock up a home game in the semifinals of next week’s conference tournament.

The Red Knights entered the week in second place in the Class 2A standings.

“With this win, we should secure a first place finish and play at home next week,” Tucker said. “We’ll see how it plays put when all the games are finished and the standings are finalized.”

Indian Creek will play two games against opponents to be announced in OVAC consolation pool action next week.

COACH D ON THE MIND

It was an emotional night for Tucker as it was the first time his Red Knights played Indian Creek since Indian Creek head coach and athletic director Joe Dunlevy was hospitalized after a medical episode during a game in December. Tucker played for Dunlevy during his playing days.

Both teams warmed up in and both coaches wore shirts during the game with “Coach D Strong” printed on them.

“It was pretty emotional, I’ve been doing this 18 years and that was the first time I looked down and didn’t see him standing down there,” Tucker said. “I know Coach D would be extremely proud of what his staff has stepped up to do, they’e doing a great job and have their kids playing really hard.”

Indian Creek shared a statement from Dunlevy’s family on Facebook earlier this week sharing that the beloved Hall of Fame coach had been discharged from the hospital and transitioned to a skilled care facility to continue his recovery.

“Continued prayers to Coach D,” Tucker added.

Toronto 52, Indian Creek 44 (OT)

T 6-10-12-12-12 — 52

IC 6-12-13-9-4 — 44

TORONTO (16-3): Joynson 3 3-7 9; Winters 4 1-2 12; Buchanan 8 1-2 22; Fair 2 0-0 4; Henry 0 3-4 3; Rebich 1 0-0 2; Bodnar 0 0-0 0; Anderson 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 18, 8-15; 52.

INDIAN CREEK (4-14): Mazar 0 0-2 0; Nickel 1 0-0 3; McGrew 5 4-6 16; Saffle 2 0-0 4; White 7 3-4 17; Lyons 1 0-0 2; Pietro 1 0-0 2; Haines 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 17. 7-12; 44.

3-POINTERS: Toronto 8 (Buchanan 5, Winters 3); Indian Creek 3 (McGrew 2, Nickell). ASSISTS: Toronto 12 (Fair 4); Indian Creek 10 (Saffle 5). REBOUNDS: Toronto 32 (Joynson 9); Indian Creek 37 (White 19). STEALS: Toronto 7 (Buchanan 3); Indian Creek 6 (Mazar 2, Nickell 2, McGrew 2). BLOCKS: Toronto 2 (Buchanan 2); Indian Creek 1 (White). TURNOVERS: Toronto 10; Indian Creek 14.