PDT Sports Report

Michael Schmidt split a pair of free throws with 2.2 seconds in regulation as No. 8 Clay earned its first tournament win since 2007 with a 42-41 win over No. 9 Western in a Division IV Southeast Sectional Semifinal at Valley High School.

Mark Shaffer led the Panthers with 11 points and Mason Pelphrey added 10 while Schmidt and Eldin Sarajlic each chipped in with nine as Sarajlic grabbed 15 rebounds. Dylan Lee paced the Indians with nine.

Clay will play No. 1 Notre Dame February 27 at Valley for a trip to Ohio University’s Convocation Center. The last time the Panthers made a deep tournament run, they lost 68-56 to Western in a Division IV Southeast District Championship game.

The Indians graduate Brian May as their lone senior.

Western 12 9 4 16 — 41

Clay 12 13 11 6 — 42

Western — Lee 3-0-9, Fite 0-2-2,Garrett 2-3-8, Riggs 2-27, Shanks 3-1-7, Brewster 4-0-8, Totals 14-8-41.

Clay — C. Phipps 1-0-2, Sarajlic 4-1-9, Shaffer 4-1-11, Schmidt 4-1-9, Pelphrey 5-0-10, Crosier 0-1-1, Totals 18-4-42.

3-Point Goals — Western 5 (Lee 3, Garrett, Riggs); Clay 2 (Shaffer 2).

Records — Western 5-18; Clay 5-18.

The following tournament scores were reported from various media outlets. Full statistics were unavailable at press time:

Division II

No. 8 New Lexington 46, No. 9 Marietta 44

No. 9 Waverly 44, No. 8 Circleville 30

Division III

No. 7 Belpre 43, No. 10 River Valley 32

No. 7 Westfall 59, No. 10 Adena 48

No. 10 South Point 50, No. 7 Coal Grove 36

Division IV

No. 9 South Gallia 68, No. 8 Ironton St. Joseph 53

All of Tuesday’s late game results, recaps and box scores will appear on portsmouth-dailytimes.com.