CIRCLEVILLE — A clutch performance from senior standout Kole Nungester lifted the Circleville Tigers to a dramatic double-overtime win Friday night — and secured the No. 1 seed in the Southeast District Division IV tournament.
Tournament seedings were announced Sunday following Circleville’s 66-59 non-conference victory over the Unioto Shermans, a statement win that capped the regular season at 18-2 for the Tigers.
Nungester, already a 1,000-point career scorer, added another defining chapter to his legacy.
With Circleville trailing by three and less than seven seconds remaining in the first overtime, Nungester chased down a long offensive rebound and calmly buried a game-tying 3-pointer to force a second extra period.
From there, he took over.
Nungester scored 10 of the Tigers’ 11 points in double overtime, sealing the 66-59 victory and sending Circleville into tournament play with momentum.
Southeast District Division IV
As the top seed in the 13-team bracket, Circleville will open postseason play in a district semifinal at the Ohio University Convocation Center on Sunday, March 1. The Tigers will face the winner of the No. 8 Gallia Academy Blue Devils and No. 9 Vinton County Vikings matchup, set for Feb. 23.
Logan Elm Braves earned the No. 7 seed and will host No. 10 McClain Tigers at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23. The winner advances to meet No. 2 Unioto at 5:30 p.m. March 1 at Ohio University.
Westfall Mustangs is seeded No. 11 and will travel to No. 6 Meigs Marauders on Feb. 23. The winner will take on No. 3 Washington Blue Lions at 7:15 p.m. March 1 at the Convocation Center.
District quarterfinals are scheduled for Feb. 23 at higher-seeded schools. District semifinals will be played March 1 at Ohio University, with finals set for March 5.
Other Divisions
In Division III’s East/Southeast combined district, 13 teams will compete for two district titles, with semifinals and finals hosted at Ohio University.
Division V features 18 schools vying for two district championships, with semifinals March 2-3 and finals March 7 at Ohio University.
Division VI semifinals will be held at Waverly Downtown Arena, with district finals returning to the Convocation Center on March 8.
Division VII semifinals are scheduled at Southeastern High School before champions are crowned March 8 at Ohio University.
Girls Tournament
In girls Central District Division II play, Amanda-Clearcreek Aces begin postseason action Saturday, Feb. 28, traveling to face No. 9 Columbus Africentric Nubians. Amanda-Clearcreek is seeded 10th.
Teays Valley Vikings earned the No. 3 seed in Division II and will host the winner of No. 9 Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets and No. 11 Logan Chieftains on Feb. 24.
With brackets finalized and momentum on their side, the Tigers now turn their attention to a postseason run — fueled by a senior who has already delivered one unforgettable March moment.
