P.J. Washington carries Findlay Prep over Bishop Gorman in overtime of Big City Showdown

Findlay Prep’s P.J. Washington didn’t get off to a stellar start on Saturday at South Point Arena.

But the senior forward came through in the clutch for the Pilots. Washington scored 15 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as Findlay Prep topped Bishop Gorman 78-72 in the annual Big City Showdown.

“Down the stretch we were up, so they had to go man,” Washington said. “I felt like we had the mismatch, so we just attacked the mismatches and got easy layups and we came out on top.”

The teams traded the lead four times in overtime, but the Pilots (18-3) took control for good on a post bucket by Washington with 1:10 to go. Gorman (13-7) hurt itself at the foul line, going 1-for-5 in overtime.

Washington, a McDonald’s All American, was 3-for-12 from the field through three quarters, and had gone 4-for-10 from the foul line as the Pilots trailed Gorman 51-46 entering the final frame.

But Findlay Prep pounded the ball inside to Washington in the fourth quarter starting from the opening possession. His post slam with 7:29 to go in regulation started a 12-2 run that gave the Pilots a 58-53 lead.

Washington had seven points, including a pair of dunks, during the run.

“We knew we could beat them up inside, it was just a matter of our guards believing in the system and getting the ball inside to P.J., Lamine (Diane), Reggie (Chaney) and Tadas (Kararinas), and they didn’t have an answer for that,” Pilots coach Paul Washington said.

Gorman took a 65-64 lead on a 15-foot jumper by D.J. Howe with 47 seconds to go in regulation. But the Pilots got the ball inside to Washington for a bucket on the ensuing possession.

Gorman’s Chuck O’Bannon was fouled with 15.2 seconds left, and made 1 of 2 free throws to tie the game at 66, and the game went to overtime. The free throw was O’Bannon’s only point in the final 13:36 of the game.

The McDonald’s All American finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Gaels. O’Bannon was 6-for-16 from the field.

“It was just will and want-to on defense,” P.J. Washington said. “I had to guard him. He was killing our other guys. So I had to step up and do it, and I felt like I did a great job of that.”

Jamal Bey led Gorman with 17 points, with 15 coming after halftime. Freshman Noah Taitz scored 15 on five 3-pointers, including a long bank shot that put Gorman up 69-68 with 2:45 to go in overtime.

“Chuck O’Bannon didn’t beat us tonight,” Paul Washington said. “Jamal had a great game, the little freshman knocked down some 3s — I don’t even know how he did that. But we wanted to make sure Charles O’Bannon didn’t beat us.”

Washington added 14 rebounds and six assists for the Pilots, who had lost their previous two games. Diane added 17 points, and Justin Roberts scored 13. Roberts was 4-for-4 from the line in overtime to seal the win.

“It was a top game,” P.J. Washington said. “It was one of our best games of the year. Both teams played really great, and we fought hard. Both sides did. And we just came out on top, and I’m proud of that.”