BUTLER TWP — They took a three-day hiatus.

Music blared in the gym during practice.

And the team gathered at a restaurant for a bonding meal 24 hours before the biggest game of the season.

The Grove City HighSchool boys basketball team was all about change in the week leading up to its first-round PIAA Class AAA playoff game.

And it worked.

Grove City (24-4) was the old Grove City, the team that won 20 straight games and the one that coach Don Fee was praying would show up in a 52-46 overtime win over Chartiers Valley at Butler High School Friday night.

"We looked like our old selves again, huh?" Fee said.

After looking like a fading team in the District 10 Class AAA playoffs and a week after getting thumped in the championship game, the Eagles came out more patient, more focused and, most importantly, more determined.

"We've had a tremendous year," Fee said. "We didn't want it to end on a sour note, just like last year. There was a lot of pressure. We didn't want that to happen again."

Grove City squandered a late seven-point fourth-quarter lead, fell behind for the first time at 44-42 with 2:35 remaining and nearly lost it on a 12-foot jumper by Chartiers Valley's Anthony Poletti at the buzzer.

But his shot hit the rim short and Grove City controlled things in the overtime period.

"I'm just proud of these guys," said senior point guard Jordan Fee, who scored a game-high 22 points. "That was a championship team (we beat)."

Chartiers Valley (23-6) made it all the way to the WPIAL championship game before being stunned by No. 16-seed West Allegheny.

The Colts struggled shooting the ball, particularly from behind the arc, where they got some open looks.

Still, Chartiers Valley made 7-of-17 3-pointers, but few were able to shift momentum.

Mike Sherry, the Colts' leading scorer, nearly brought his team back, scoring 10 of his team-high 15 points in the fourth quarter.

But Chartiers Valley was held without a point for the final 2:35 of regulation and didn't score again until 18 seconds remained in overtime.

By then, the Eagles had complete control.

"We played a smarter game, a much smarter game," Don Fee said. "We took care of the ball. We came back and had two good practices Wednesday and Thursday and we had music on the whole practice on Thursday. The guys were loose."

Fee had never allowed one of his teams to take such a radical approach.

After the lopsided loss to General McLane March 2, he gave his players that Saturday and Sunday off. The Eagles practiced that Monday, then took the next day off.

"I really had reservations about doing it," Fee said. "But it was good to get away."

It was the assistant coaches' idea to allow the players to rock out at practice on Thursday.

"I have some young assistants," the coach said. "I'm getting a little ancient. I'm getting stuck in my old ways, I guess."

The players also changed things up.

They all went out to eat together the night before the game.

"We were trying to do anything to get pumped up," Jordan Fee said. "I think it worked.

"We had a pre-game dinner to do something different. It felt like a team atmosphere and it really got us together. It was one of those little things, maybe, but it worked."

Grove City came out fast, scoring five points before Chartiers Valley could attempt a shot. The Eagles forced the Colts into many mistakes, recording nearly 20 turnovers in the game.

Ben Liebling hit his first shot of the game, a 3-pointer, to get Grove City going and scored all nine of his points in the first half.

Grove City will take on Ambridge in the second round of the state playoffs Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.

Music will most likely make a comeback in the Grove City gym in preparation for that game.

"There will be some blaring (Saturday)," DonFee said.

GROVE CITY 52Maxx Stutz 2-2 0-0 4, Ben Liebling 3-5 1-2 9, Danny Keil 2-7 2-2 6, Jordan Fee 9-16 3-4 22, Kyle Perrine 1-3 1-2 3, Keith Donaldson 0-1 0-0 0, Ryan McNamara 2-3 2-2 6, Kent Denbow 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 20-39 9-12 52

CHARTIERS VALLEY 46Anthony Poletti 4-10 5-6 13, Brandon Fischbach 0-1 0-0 0, Brian Castelo 3-8 1-1 7, T.J. McConnell 3-5 0-0 9, Dan Wetzel 0-0 0-0 0, Mike Sherry 6-12 0-0 15, Teagan Lindsey 1-5 0-0 2.

Totals: 17-41 5-7 46

Grove City 13 12 11 8 8—52Chartiers Valley 12 7 10 15 2—463-point goals: Grove City 3 (Liebling 2, Fee); Chartiers Valley 7 (Poletti, McConnell 3, Sherry 3

Tuesday: Grove City vs. Ambridge, PIAA second round, TBA