KARNS CITY — With the game's outcome hanging in the balance, Mark Ferguson recalled a childhood memory.

The Karns City senior guard proceeded to sink two free throws with 11.5 seconds left in the second overtime, handing the Gremlins a 77-76 boys basketball victory over Union Wednesday night.

Ferguson had missed his last three free throw attempts — including two in the first overtime — before sinking the tying and game-winning shots.

"I was standing there getting ready to shoot and thought back to something my brother told me when I was in sixth grade," Ferguson said. "Those words have stayed with me ever since.

"Big-time players make big-time shots in big-time games."

The free throws culminated a night in which neither team ever held a double-digit lead and the lead changed hands 14 times.

It nearly changed for a 15th time.

Despite four of its starters — Gary Cooper, Toby Painter, Nate Boltz and Billy Burns — fouled out of the game, Union quickly pushed the ball down the floor after Ferguson's free throws.

Mike Brothers misfired on a 6-footer, Kyle Hilliard rebounded, but couldn't put it in, and a tip at the buzzer failed to fall as the Gremlins (9-11, 8-2) held on.

"We get called for reaching fouls away from the basket — and they were legitimate fouls — but then we get off three shots at the end, our guys get clubbed and there's no call," Union coach Karen Davis fumed.

"An official had just told me they (the officials) weren't going to decide this game. Then they went and decided the game."

Karns City coach Steve Andreassi understood his counterpart's frustration.

"This was a game of high intensity, back and forth for a very long time … Whatever coach lost this game was going to be frustrated," he said.

Both teams had chances to take control of the game, but did not. Karns City used an 8-0 run to grab a 51-44 lead with 2:38 left in the third quarter, only to watch the Golden Knights (12-7, 7-3) go on a 9-0 run to lead 53-51 after three quarters.

Union assumed a 61-55 lead with 5:45 left in regulation, but a 9-2 Gremlin run gave the hosts a 64-63 lead with 1:30 left.

Steve Black drained a 3-pointer to put Karns City in front.

"I told those two guys (Black and Ferguson) before the game that we needed 30 to 35 (points) from them to win," Andreassi said.

He got more than he bargained for. Black finished with 24 points and seven rebounds while Ferguson had 21 points and nine boards.

Hilliard sank one of two free throws to knot the game for Union with 1:21 left in regulation. Karns City held for the last shot, but Black's 3-pointer from the left baseline was off the mark.

With the score even at 70 late in the first overtime, Union held for the last shot. An errant 3-point shot resulted in a jump ball and the Golden Knights' possession with 1.5 seconds on the clock.

Hilliard received the in-bounds pass, but his off-balanced 6-footer from the baseline bounced off the rim.

"We didn't play real well tonight," Davis said. "We had our chances. We need to re-focus, forget about this and get ready for the next game."

Union built a 76-72 lead with 1:49 left in the second overtime, but never scored again. Kevin Beck hit two free throws with 1:36 left and Mike McConnell drained one of two from the line to pull the Gremlins within 76-75 with 56 seconds to go.

Hilliard was whistled for a five-second call while dribbling around the perimeter with 33.8 seconds remaining.

"The same kid wasn't guarding him that entire time," Davis said. "I'm not sure how that rule works, but I'll look it up.

"My assistant coach was trying to call a timeout, too … But it (the crowd) was so loud."

The turnover set up Ferguson's heroics.

"Mark is the most intense player I've ever coached," Andreassi said. "He plays with a ferocity that's tough to match.

"If I could pick any player to be at the line in that situation, it'd be Mark Ferguson."

Kevin Beck contributed 13 points and sophomore Mike Senapole 11 for Karns City.

Hilliard paced Union with 31 points and 13 rebounds. Boltz added 15 points, Burns and Cooper 11 each. The Golden Knights had a 43-36 edge on the boards with Spencer Varner grabbing eight caroms.

Karns City had 24 turnovers to Union's 21.

"This win is such a confidence-builder for us," Ferguson said. "We played a rough out of conference schedule and we lost eight seniors from last year.

"But we're still here."

UNION 76

Nate Boltz 5-10 3-4 15, Gary Cooper 4-6 3-4 11, Neil Scott 0-1 0-0 0, Toby Painter 2-9 0-0 4, Billy Burns 4-10 2-5 11, Spencer Varner 0-3 2-4 2, Mike Brothers 1-6 0-2 2, Kyle Hilliard 10-19 11-14 31. Totals: 26-64 21-33 76

KARNS CITY 77

Mike Senapole 5-9 0-0 11, Steve Black 7-14 7-11 24, Mike McConnell 3-8 2-4 8, Cameron Turner 0-6 0-0 0, Matt McConnell 0-1 0-0 0, Mark Ferguson 6-15 6-10 21, Jeremy Bowser 0-1 0-0 0, Kevin Beck 5-7 3-5 13. Totals: 26-61 18-30 77

3-point goals:

Boltz 2, Burns; Senapole, Black 3, Ferguson 3

JV:

Union, 46-37 (U-A.J. Etheridge 10, KC-Chris Harmon 10)

Friday:

Union @ Rocky Grove, Karns City @ Cranberry