Published Saturday, March 6, 1999 
Grove City's Josh Morgan and General McLane's Jeff Madara, a pair of seniors, came into the contest as their teams' top scorers at 21- and 26-points per game, respectively.
Fortunately for the Eagles, it was their No. 42 who came alive in the nick of time to carry Grove City to a scintillating 56-51 overtime victory before more than 3,000 raucous fans at Edinboro University's McComb Field House.
After being held in check with five points in the first half, Morgan exploded for 16 second-half points to spark Grove City (18-8) to its first District 10 title since 1992-93.
"I've never been happier over a victory in my life," said Grove City coach Don Fee, just moments after exchanging a big hug and kiss with an equally elated wife, Linda. "It's tough playing them up here. It's extremely difficult and they're a great team, and being down the way we were and battling back and the foul trouble we had, I can't give our kids enough credit. And you've got to give McLane a lot of credit - What a battle! What a game!
"It was the best game I've ever been involved in as a coach."
Morgan cooly sank a pair of free throws with 3 seconds left in regulation to tie the contest at 47 and send it into overtime.
"What can you say about him, stepping up in that situation and knocking them down?" said Fee.
General McLane coach Andy Schulz felt that Morgan shouldn't have been at the line to begin with. "That was the play of the game right there," said Schulz, who thought Morgan should have been called for a charge. "It was a call that didn't go that way and so be it. But we'll be adults about it, hold our heads up high and get ready to go next week.
"It's just a shame with 3 seconds left they had to make a helluva call like that. I've never seen anything like it in my life. But I'm happy for Donny Fee and Grove City, they played a helluva game tonight."
The Lancers (25-2), who had a 22-game winning streak snapped, jumped ahead 51-49 at the 2:25 mark of the extra frame on Casey Ponsoll and Madara deuces that were sandwiched around a Greg Mattocks put-back of a Morgan miss.
The Eagles then finished the game with a 7-0 run on a pair of Pat Bell freebies, a Morgan bucket and two free throws, and an additional free throw from Steve Buck.
"I've never seen a more courageous effort from a team that I've had in my life," said Fee. "The guys didn't give up and it was a total team effort. I can't say enough, it's the best victory of my life."
In the all-important latter stage of the contest, Grove City hit 10-of-12 from the charity stripe, led by Morgan's 6-for-7 effort. General McLane, meanwhile, was 0-3 in overtime and 2-for-7 overall in the final 12 minutes.
The 6-foot-9 Morgan also finished with 12 rebounds and 6 blocked shots as he dominated the inside despite often being double-and-tripled teammed. By the much smaller Lancers, whose tallest starter was 6-1.
Grove City also recevied huge games off the bench from the sophomore standouts Bell and Mattocks, who finished with 12 and 8 points, respectively. Mattocks also snared 5 rebounds.
"Those two grew up against Franklin and they played huge tonight," said Fee.
Ryan Surrena added 8 points, including 6 in the first frame, and Matt Williamson contributed 6 points and 10 rebounds for Grove City. The Eagles trailed 18-14 after one quarter and 29-21 at the intermission, mainly due to the efforts of Madara, who tallied 16 of his game-high 26 points in the first half.
The Eagles began chipping away at the Lancers lead, which grew to 34-23 at the 6:16 mark of the third quarter before a 15-3 Eagle run, sparked by 6 and 5 points respectively by Morgan and Mattocks and capped by a Williamson bucket with 1:02 left.
That enabled Grove City to move ahead 38-37 entering the fourth quarter. It was the Eagles' first lead since 8-7 at the 5:14 mark of the first period.
"Our 2-2-1 zone press gave them trouble," said Fee. "That stymied them and slowed them down, but I just thought our kids dug in defensively, really challenged their kids and forced some turnovers."
General McLane inched ahead, 42-38, on a 3-pointer from Ponsell, who finished with 17 points, and a Madara bucket, but a 7-1 Grove City run moved the Eagles back in front 45-43, with 5:19 remaining in the game. Grove City wouldn't score again in regulation until Morgan's clutch free throws.
Notes:Grove City will face the WPIAL's No. 7 seed Friday at site and time to be determined. General McLane will face the WPIAL No. 4 team. ... Grove City finished 15 of 21 at the free throw line, General McLane was 17 of 26. ... Grove City enjoyed a 33-21 edge on the boards.
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DISTRICT 10 AAA BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
GROVE CITY 14 7 17 9 9 56
GEN. MCLANE 18 11 8 10 4 51
GROVE CITY - Morgan 7-7-10-21; Surrena 4-0-0-8; Williamson 3-0-0-6; McKinley 0-0-0-0; Fisher 0-0-1-0; Mattocks 2-3-4-8; Bell 4-4-4-12; Buck 0-1-2-0; Otteni 0-0-0-0.3-pt goals: Mattocks 1. Totals: 20-15-21-56.
GENERAL MCLANE - Madara 8-10-12-26; Ponsoll 5-5-6-17; Peck 2-0-0-4; Graham 0-0-1-0; Stafford 1-1-2-3; Meabon 0-0-3-0; Grabill 1-0-0-3; Divito 0-1-2-1; Hopkins 0-0-0-0.3-pt. goals: Ponsoll 2, Grabill 1. Totals:17-17-26-51.
