By DAVE O’SULLIVAN
Staff Writer
LINWOOD — The seconds were winding down in the third overtime period on Saturday afternoon at Mainland Regional High. Eight, seven, six. Ocean City guard Dylan Schlatter dribbled to his right and pulled up for a potential game-tying 15-foot jump shot.
The shot was one Red Raiders coach John Bruno would love to have Schlatter take 100 out of 100 times. But the shot bounced off the front of the rim and into the arms of Mainland’s Cohen Cook, who ran out the last few ticks to secure one of the Mustangs’ greatest wins in program history.
The Stangs had survived, winning an epic, instant-classic 3-overtime masterpiece, 69-67. They captured their first South Jersey Group 3 championship in 43 years. Ronald Reagan was president the last time the green-and-white captured a sectional banner, way back in 1981.
There aren’t enough superlatives to describe what happened in Mainland’s cozy gymnasium. This game had everything. Arch rivals going at it for a third time this season. Incredible shooting performances from the likes of Tim Travagline of Mainland and Schlatter, who combined to nail seven 3-pointers. Clutch shooting from both sides, a near-triple-double from Cook. Perhaps the best game diminutive Ocean City guard Ben McGonigle has ever played in his life (15 points, six rebounds, two steals).
What made it even more impressive was that each team used just six players the entire 44 minutes.
By the third overtime, it was like that scene at the end of the movie Rocky, where Balboa and Creed were just standing toe-to-toe, slugging each other with big punches — both refusing to go down.
“It got a little scary there at the end, going to overtime three times. We just kept working on defense, and we just got it done,” Cook said.
“They hit a lot of threes,” Travagline added. “They came out, hit a lot of threes, knocked them down to cut it close, but we kind of just stuck together, like we have been all year.”
Mainland (26-6, 11-1 Cape-Atlantic National) held an eight-point advantage, 49-41, with two minutes to go in regulation but the Red Raiders (26-4, 9-2 CAL American) continued to come back. Kori Segich nailed a 3-pointer to get Ocean City to within 51-46 and with 1:16 to go forward Pat Grimley drained a three to make it 53-49. Schlatter scored five straight points in a span of 30 seconds to cut Mainland’s lead to 55-54, then he drained another three with eight seconds left to make it 57-57 and eventually force the first overtime.
Ocean City built a 64-61 lead, but Travagline hit a huge 3-pointer with 55 seconds left to send the game into a second overtime.
“We hit some big threes, and they hit some big shots. Travagline’s three (in the first OT) to tie it was huge,” said Ocean City coach John Bruno. “They deserved it, in the end they made the plays they had to make. But our kids didn’t quit. Anytime you’re in a situation like this — especially in a South Jersey final — you just want to make sure you left it all out there on the floor, and I don’t think there’s any doubt they left everything they had out on the floor.”
“Coach drew it up and all the guys believe in me and I believe in all of them,” said Travagline, who scored a game-high 25 points. “We’re all just one big family. I just shot it with confidence.”
In the third overtime, it seemed as though Mainland was playing for one shot after getting the tip, and the Stangs ran three of the four minutes off the clock but the possession went for naught as McGonigle came up with a steal and Schlatter was fouled after getting the loose ball. He hit 1-of-2 from the line to put Ocean City up, 67-66. The Raiders got the offensive rebound on the second missed free throw, but Cook jumped in front of a pass for a steal and was fouled. He and Travagline went 3-for-4 from the line in the final 38 seconds to put Mainland up, 69-67, leading to Ocean City’s last-gasp jumper from Schlatter.
“That three Travagline hit when we were down by three in double overtime was probably our biggest play of the game. We needed the big guys to do what they do, and they did that. This has been a long time coming,” said Mainland coach Dan Williams. “The fight that they had, and have had all year, even in football — we had to be resilient. We were up by eight with two minutes to play in regulation, and to just recover from that mentally was big. What an awesome final. You can’t ask for anything better. The atmosphere was awesome, kids on both sides — it was so emotional.”
Cook — also a star in football and baseball — scored 24 points and had 10 rebounds, seven assists, a blocked shot and a steal. Stephen Ordille added 12 points and Jamie Tyson chipped in eight points and five rebounds. For Ocean City, Schlatter led the way with 21 while Segich chipped in 19 and Charlie LaBarre had seven points.
“This is one of the top, for sure,” Cook said when asked where this win ranked on his high school resume. “Triple overtime, this is our first sectional title in basketball in over 40 years. It’s an amazing, awesome feeling. With the energy that was in this gym, we could have kept playing all night. It took a little longer than we wanted it to, but we got it done.”
Added Travagline, “I just wanted this win more than anything. I knew this was going to be my last game here (in Mainland’s gym) so I just had to give it all I’ve got. This means a lot. (43 years) is a long time, so we’re just really excited about the win.”
WHAT’S NEXT: Mainland vs. Freehold Boro at Monroe High on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Group 3 state semifinals. Ocean City’s season is complete.
Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sullyglorydays@gmail.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays
