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EspañolPymatuning Valley’s 2025-26 boys basketball season came down to the final 1.2 seconds Saturday.
That’s when Noah Dubic hit a game-winning free throw to give the Lakers a 57-56 Division V Northeast 1 sectional title at PVHS.
The Lakers, 13-10, are scheduled to play at No. 1 Cleveland Hts. Lutheran East at 7 p.m. Wednesday in a district semifinal contest.
Brooklyn, the 14th seed, goes against No. 12 Wooster Triway in the other district semifinal contest at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The winners will head to Cleveland Heights at 3:30 p.m. Saturday for the district title.
As the 20th seed, PV goes to Lutheran East, which beat Beachwood 87-12 Saturday.
“Really excited to see what the best in the state looks like,” PV coach Ryan Shontz said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for my young guys to see what it takes to be elite.”
Against Wickliffe, Dubic was fouled on a 3-point attempt in the final seconds. He missed the first free throw, made the second and missed the third on purpose.
The Lakers started with a 19-15 first-quarter advantage. PV extended the lead to 32-21 by halftime.
“Our halftime lead was built off the defensive efforts of Trent Harvey, senior forward,” Shontz said. “He did a great job slowing down their best player [Drew Rossman].”
Rossman scored seven points in the first half.
He tallied 19 points in the second half as the Blue Devils mounted their comeback, for a game high of 26.
They outscored PV 15-11 in the third quarter and 20-14 in the fourth.
The Lakers had three players in double digits, led by Justin Britton with 13 points. Dubic and Andrew Wludyga added 12 points each.
Wludyga hit four of the team’s 10 3-pointers.
“Junior captain Andrew Wludyga played an amazing game,” Shontz said. “He helped calm down our young guys. Playoff wins are hard to come by, I’m really proud of them.”
Dubic had three threes, Britton added two and Max Moores chipped in with one.
PV is making its second straight district appearance, and third in the last three years.