SLIPPERY ROCK - Tyler Callihan wanted the ball. And Karns City wanted him to have it.

The senior point guard's lay-up with 57 seconds left in regulation had tied Union City at 52 in their PIAA Class AA first-round boys basketball tournament game Saturday at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House.

Teammate Mark Ferguson then stole the ball and the Gremlins had possession and a timeout with 21.3 seconds remaining.

"The kids came to the sidelines and Tyler said something he's never said before," Karns City coach Steve Andreassi said. "He said he wanted the ball.

"I saw no reason not to give it to him."

But Callihan could only get away an off-balanced 3-point shot at the buzzer that was well wide of the mark. Union City (22-6) took immediate control of the game in overtime and posted a 64-55 victory.

"Everyone in the building knew who was getting the ball," Union City coach Mike Schrecengost said of the end of regulation.

Andreassi didn't care.

The score was tied for the 10th time, there were nine lead changes and the biggest lead for either team in regulation was 44-38 for Union City early in the fourth quarter.

"It's never any secret who we want to have the ball late in close games," Andreassi said. "Keystone knew it. Clarion knew it. We still won those games.

"Tyler's almost always successful in those situations. Today, it didn't happen."

The Bears' defense floated out high on Callihan and the ball was tipped loose with four seconds left. Callihan regained possession of it, but just in time to fling a desperate shot toward the basket as time expired.

"I thought they kicked the ball during that scramble and we should have had an in-bounds play with three seconds left," Andreassi said.

The call never came and Union City took advantage in overtime.

A free throw and lay-up by senior forward Tom Dodd gave the Bears a 55-52 lead in OT. Karns City (19-8) lost possession when Nathan Knox was tied up by two players while going for a lay-up with two minutes to go.

The play was ruled a jump ball and Union City gained possession. Steve Miller scored on a lay-up moments later. Cody Campbell followed that up with a transition lay-up and the Bears had a 59-52 lead with 1:10 left.

"One call, one possession can turn a game in overtime," Andreassi said. "I thought we were fouled on that play when they called a jump ball. The call didn't go our way."

Four free throws in the final 35 seconds sealed the victory for Union City. Karns City missed all seven of its field goal attempts in overtime.

"We figured this to be a close game to the end," Shrecengost said. "We have so much respect for Karns City. They're District 9 champs and Callihan was the leading scorer in the district two years in a row.

"Dodd really hurt them. He's a 6-foot-2 kid who handles the ball well and can get to the basket. He provides match-up problems."

Dodd led the Bears with 23 points. Dan Powell, the team's 6-9 senior center, had 15 points, 17 rebounds and six blocked shots.

Powell has not decided on a college yet, but Allegheny, Indiana (Pa.) and Penn State-Behrend appear to be the frontrunners.

"You can't teach height," Andreassi said. "He's a 6-9 kid who doesn't leave the paint. What are you gonna do? Settle for 15-footers or take it in and try to draw fouls. We did the best we could against him."

Powell was guarding David Black, but left the Gremlins' senior alone outside the paint. Black responded with 16 points, including five 3-pointers.

Callihan had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Gremlins.

"We did a good job on Callihan, but they had other kids step up and score. We weren't expecting that," Schrecengost said.

Union City had 19 turnovers to Karns City's 15. The Gremlins were out-rebounded, 36-30.

Saturday's loss ended the high school basketball careers of eight Gremlin seniors: Callihan, Black, Knox, Ryan Earley, Josh Behrens, Josh Fiscus, Blake Armstrong and Jonny Geibel.

Callihan leaves as the school's all-time leading scorer.

"We may never have another Tyler Callihan, but we'll have other kids grow into leaders and new kids will step up," Andreassi said.

"The atmosphere alone of a game like this will help feed the program."

UNION CITY 64

Bryn Smith 2-2 0-2 4, Richard Gawlinski 0-0 0-1 0, Steve Miller 2-2 1-2 5, Dan Powell 5-13 5-7 15, Jon Burdick 1-1 0-0 2, Scot Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Joel Hobson 0-2 5-6 5, Cody Campbell 4-11 0-0 10, Tom Dodd 6-12 11-16 23. Totals: 20-43 22-34 64

KARNS CITY 55

David Black 5-12 1-2 16, Steve Black 0-2 3-6 3, Tyler Callihan 5-20 4-6 16, Nathan Knox 1-4 2-2 4, Mark Ferguson 2-8 3-4 7, Ryan Earley 1-4 0-1 3, Josh Behrens 3-4 0-0 6. Totals: 17-54 13-20 55

3-point goals:

Campbell 2; D.Black 5, Callihan 2, Earley