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Back in it: Western Albemarle boys earn state tournament bid in overtime win over Hidden Valley

A trio of close games in big spots haven’t exactly gone Western Albemarle boys basketball’s way in the last couple of weeks.

 

Losses to Charlottesville in the last week of the regular season and in the Jefferson District tournament.

 

A Conference 29 championship game loss against Spotswood on Saturday.

 

But on Tuesday night when a close game had to go the Warriors’ way or their season was over, one finally did.

 

Western Albemarle rallied to beat Hidden Valley in overtime 55-50 in overtime Tuesday on the road in the Region 3A West quarterfinals, locking up a state tournament berth for the Warriors for the second year in a row.

 

Chris McGahren, who only returned from a December injury in the Conference tournament quarterfinals, buried a 3-pointer with 17 seconds to play to force overtime at 50-50. In that frame, a bucket from Jed Strickland and three made free throws from Ryan Ingram and Josh Coffman was all Western needed as the defense clamped down and held Hidden Valley scoreless in overtime.

 

Ingram finished with 17 points and five rebounds on the night while Coffman had 13 points including two third quarter 3-pointers. McGahren had nine points, all from beyond the arc including the critical game-tying shot that gave the Warriors’ new life.

 

Teo Rampini had seven points and seven boards for Western in a solid effort underneath and Strickland chipped in with five points and five rebounds.

 

Western trailed 28-24 at the break and was down 40-36 going into the fourth. They kept hanging around though, and McGahren knocked down the difference-maker near the end of regulation.

 

The Warriors will head back to Roanoke Thursday to face Northside who beat Liberty 66-56 Tuesday.

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