FAIRBORN — With 2.5 seconds to play, junior center Zach Comer made two free throws to secure Miami East's 53-49 win over Middletown Fenwick in the Division III regional final at Wright State's Nutter Center.

        Travis Mumma scored 27 points to lead Miami East. With 11 seconds to play, Mumma was fouled and made the first of two free throws to give Miami East a 48-47 lead.

        The Vikings converted six of eight free throws in the final 11 seconds, after making only eight of 20 up to that point.

        “We make our pressure free throws,” Comer said. “We practice them everyday in practice. I wasn't going to miss.”

        With 8.1 seconds to play, Mumma and Paul Hershberger made three of four free throws after an intentional foul and technical foul were called on Fenwick senior Tony McCormick to give Miami East a 51-47 lead.

        “Those free throws were very important,” Mumma said. “We had to make them so they couldn't win it on a last-second shot.”

        On Fenwick's next possession, Matt Munafo was fouled but missed the front end of a one-and-one. Charlie Martin was there for the rebound and putback with 3.7 seconds to pull Fenwick within two points. Sophomore Mike Kleingers led Fenwick back from a 29-21 halftime deficit with 17 second-half points. Kleingers finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds.

        “I didn't see the two fouls at the end on Tony,” Fenwick coach Pat Kreke said. “It's tough to lose a game like this. Kids fought back like they have all year.”

        After Fenwick took a 15-13 lead at the end of the first quarter, Mumma scored nine second-quarter points to help Miami East build a 10-point lead, 29-19.

        Fenwick battled back in the third with Kleingers scoring all but four of the Falcons' points to cut the lead to 37-35.

        MIAMI EAST (53) — T. Mumma 10-17 5-12 27, Chivington 1-5 0-0 2, Comer 2-5 5-6 9, Hershberger 0-2 2-2 2, Sandlin 4-7 1-4 10, Sowry 0-1 1-2 1, Bentley 1-3 0-2 2. Totals: 18-40 14-28 53.

        FENWICK (49) — Martin 3-12 0-0 6, Burns 1-8 0-0 3, Kleingers 10-15 6-7 26, McCormick 4-15 0-2 10, J. Kreke 1-3 0-0 2, Halcomb 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 20-55 6-10 49.
       Miami East 13 16 8 16 - 53
       Fenwick 15 6 14 14 - 49

        3-Pointers: Miami East 3-11 (Mumma 2, Sandlin), Fenwick 3-18 (McCormick 2, Burns). Rebounds: Miami East 33 (Comer 9), Fenwick 37 (Kleingers 12). Records: Fenwick 20-6, Miami East 24-2.

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