Photo/KRISTIN MAZGAJ ST. CLAIRSVILLE'S Avery Henry pulls down a rebound during Saturday's Buckeye 8 championship game against East Liverpool at Edison.

RICHMOND — East Liverpool’s boys basketball team clearly subscribes to the cliche that if at first you don’t succeed to try, try and try again.

Actually, it took the Potters six tries total before they were able to break through and claim the program’s first Buckeye 8 Boys Basketball championship.

That sixth time came Saturday night at Edison High School when the Potters had to survive a valiant test from St. Clairsville to claim a hard-earned 61-58 victory to claim the league title and all but clinch an opening-round home game in the OVAC Tournament, which begins a week from Tuesday.

“I am glad to see the North finally get one of these (titles),” a relieved Nate Conley said. “I am really excited for our guys to finally get a Buckeye 8 championship. We’ve been in the championship several times and it was starting to weigh on me a little bit, too.”

The win improves East Liverpool to 13-3 on the season.

The win is the second of the season for East Liverpool over St. Clairsville, which is now 10-8 on the season. Two weekends ago, the Potters handed St. C. a 73-55 setback on its home floor.

“East Liverpool’s a really good basketball team,” St. C. head coach Ryan Clifford said. “I am proud of how we fought to the end. It shows we’re still committed. The effort we gave is something I am really proud of. When we played them a couple of weeks ago, we were reeling and now playing our best basketball, but we’ve played pretty well two nights.”

Though Clifford is happy with the Red Devils performances this week — and in their last three dating back to a stinging loss at Steubenville — St. C. has been on the short end each time.

“That’s what stinks for the kids,” Clifford said. “Our kids really gave it, but we don’t have a lot to show for it. If we come back Tuesday (at Brooke) with this kind of effort and energy, I think we’ll put ourselves in a position to possibly see East Liverpool again (in the OVAC).”

For the better part of two-plus quarters, the Red Devils had the Potters on their heels. Defending and dictating tempo, St. C. owned a 31-24 lead at halftime.

It was then, however, when Liverpool turned it up a notch on both ends. It proceeded to outscore St. C., 18-6 in the third.

“This (game) definitely wasn’t our pace or tempo,” Conley said. “I thought (Nate) Harris really controlled the game for St. Clairsville. He’s one of my favorite players because of how he controls the game.”

The Potters were able to use their defense to force some turnovers, which led to run-out chances which they converted. Senior Brennan O’Hara and sophomore Devin Toothman provided a scoring spark for East Liverpool in the third.

While it seemed like Liverpool had taken control and extended the lead to as many as eight in the fourth, the Red Devils simply wouldn’t go away. Thanks to the continued play of senior point guard Nate Harris, a few Potter miscues and missed front ends of one-and-ones, St. C. found itself with the ball and a chance to tie.

However, Liverpool fouled before a St. Clairsville player went up for a possible game-tying trey with just under two seconds to go.

“We knew they’d make a run and it was a matter if we could weather it,” Clifford said. “It seemed like everything was going against us. From being up seven, to down eight and then to have a chance to tie the game tells me something about our kids. I am proud of that.”

East Liverpool was led by Tresean Jackson, who poured in 20 points. O’Hara added 13 and Timmy Neal recorded 12.

Harris paced the Red Devils with 24, while junior Will Balgo finished with 14. Senior Brett Vike added nine.

Here’s a look at the other games contested Saturday as part of the Buckeye 8 crossover:

Third-Fourth Place

Martins Ferry 60, Beaver Local 54

Martins Ferry picked up a key win in its push for an OVAC Tournament berth thanks to a victory against Beaver, which was sitting in the fourth spot when the week began.

The Purple Riders were led by talented junior Logan Smith, who poured in 30. Ruben Hilson added 13 and Jaizen Miles went for 10.

Luke Chetock led Beaver with 24.

Fifth-Sixth Place

Union Local 75, Buckeye Local 46

Union Local hit 11, first-half treys en route to a 42-20 lead on Buckeye Local and never looked back. All told, the Jets connected on 16 bonus goals.

Zach Bateman hit six bonus goals in the opening half and finished with 18 points, while junior Luke Merritt continued to torch the nets, hitting five 3s and finishing with 20 points. Nathan Meyer finished with 11.

The Panthers were led by Mason Brown’s nine points.

Seventh-Eighth Place

Harrison Central 61, Edison 20

Kobe Mitchell became the all-time leading scorer, regardless of gender, in Harrison Central history with his 27-point performance, which led the Huskies to a lopsided win. Mitchell came into the game needing nine to pass Katy Ellzy. He now has 1,474 points.

Mitchell was joined in double figures by Cruz Capers, who had 10 points.

Edison was led by Andrew Pugh’s 10.

Ninth-Tenth Place

Indian Creek 65, Bellaire 50

The Redskins posted their first win of the season, leading Bellaire wire-to-wire in the process.

Creek was led by Isaiah Vandine, who scored 19 and Logan Schaffer, who added 15.

Bellaire was led by David Zwack’s 18 and Trenton Wilson’s 17.