East Palestine’s Clark Rutledge goes for the block on Lisbon’s AJ Ramgeet on Wednesday at East Palestine. (Photo by Michael Burich)

LISBON –Lisbon’s boys basketball team came into the East Palestine gym on Wednesday with the confidence it would be able to take home a share of the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference title without much drama. East Palestine was prepared for a dog fight, however.

Lisbon saw the Bulldogs pull within two points with 27 seconds left but hung on with several key late rebounds in a 69-63 victory.

The Blue Devils moved to 15-5 and 12-2 in the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference. Columbiana also finished 12-2 in the league after a blowout win over Southern on Wednesday.

It was Lisbon’s eighth overall league title and the school’s second in three seasons. Lisbon coach Chris Huckshold, who won his third league title, said Lisbon’s group of seniors except for sophomore AJ Ramgeet were the first to be a part of two league championships during their high school careers.

“After the loss to Columbiana the kids thought the league was over,” Huckshold said. “But it’s a long season. It’s a long season for Lisbon and it’s a long season for every team in the league. Teams are going to catch you on a bad night.”

Valley Christian’s upset of Columbiana on Feb. 6 opened the door for the two-way tie for the title. The Clippers and Devils split the regular-season series with Lisbon suffering an early season loss to United for its other league loss.

“I’m very proud of my brother in-law, coach Todd Johnson (at Columbiana),” Huckshold said. “We always don’t see eye to eye, but I love sharing it with him. He’s a guy who coached under me and he’s a guy I call my brother. I would not want to share it with anyone else.”

Lisbon senior AJ Ramgeet had 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists on the night. While he was at Oak Glen when Lisbon won its last league title in 2024, the Devil standout said he’ll cherish this one.

“It’s a big accomplishment,” Ramgeet said. “Growing up I was around Lisbon my whole life until I moved over to West Virginia and played for Oak Glen from the sixth grade until I came back here for my junior year.”

Ramgeet said the push for the league title has been in the works since last offseason.

“Right after the season ended we put up this sign in the locker room that said ‘Blue Devil Redemption Tour,'” Ramgeet said. “Everyone said lets go get it.”

Senior Blaine Barnes had 11 points and five rebounds in the win. He said he was happy to be a part of two title teams during his career.

“It feels good,” Barnes said. “We put a lot of work in and it’s the best reward.”

Aidan Ramgeet topped his brother in scoring with 23 points. He added six rebounds and four steals. Aiden Myers chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds. Senior Ashton Hinchliffe had seven rebounds.

East Palestine (6-15 and 3-11 in the league) closed to 65-63 with 27 seconds left off a steal and bucket from Drew Bycroft. Lisbon then missed five of six free throw attempts down on their own end as East Palestine had all kinds of trouble grabbing defensive rebounds against the taller Devils. Eventually Aidan Ramgeet was able to hit three free throws in the final seconds of the game to five the Devils enough cushion to escape.

“It was a surprise,” AJ Ramgeet said of East Palestine closing to within two. “But we’ve games like that. Like when Columbiana came to our place. We’re used to it. We just had to fight it out.”

East Palestine hit 12 threes on the night. Kealin Simon scored 11 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter to lead the East Palestine rally. Clark Rutledge added 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals. Bycroft had 13 points and five assists. RJ May added 10 points, four rebounds and two blocks.

The Bulldogs came into the night on a five-game winning streak.

“Coming into the game we had nothing to lose,” East Palestine coach Tristan Reynolds said. “I just asked them to empty the tank. When that final buzzer did ring we were going to be right there. I’m proud of them.”

Game notes

¯ Lisbon will host Salem on Friday for its senior night. The game was a late addition to the schedule after both teams had schools call off games. In Lisbon’s case it has been a bit of a scheduling nightmare as of late. Earlier this season Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas bailed on a game and that was followed by Fuchs Mizrachi, a private Jewish Orthodox school near Cleveland, canceling a contract. Lisbon was slated to play Lowellville on Saturday but the Rockets backed out. Huckshold said Lisbon athletic director Kyle Bing is working to get the Devils that 22nd regular season game but did not know what the available options were at this point.

¯ Columbiana has won a share of the last three EOAC titles.

¯ No. 7 seed Lisbon will host No. 16 seed Springfield in a Div. VI sectional tournament game on Feb. 27. Led by former Salem head coach Jeff Brink, the Tigers are 12-10 on the season.

¯ No. 25 seed East Palestine will travel to No. 22 seed St. Thomas Aquinas for its Div. VI sectional tournament game on Feb. 27.

¯ Lisbon won the two quarter jayvee game, 23-12. Jett Vrable had nine points for Lisbon. Jayson Robb had seven points for East Palestine.

LI: 17-13-20-19–69

EP: 16-12-12-23–63

LISBON SCORING: Aidan Ramgeet 7-6-23, Blaine Barnes 5-1-11, Aiden Myers 4-2-10, Ashton Hinchliffe 0-0-0, AJ Ramgeet 10-1-21, Logan Sturgeon 2-0-4. TEAM TOTALS: 28-59, 10-19: 69.

EAST PALESTINE SCORING: RJ May 4-0-10, Michael Chestnut 1-0-3, Tanner Morrow 1-0-2, Drew Bycroft 5-2-13, Peyton Rutledge 0-0-0, Kealin Simon 5-3-17, Clark Rutledge 7-0-18. TAM TOTALS: 23, 5-5: 63.

Three-point goals: East Palestine 12 (C. Rutledge 4, Simon 4, May 2, Chestnut, Bycroft), Lisbon 3-16 (AJ Ramgeet 3).