On Dec. 29, 2018, the current seniors on Kirtland’s basketball team were in sixth grade. The Hornets’ varsity beat Chardon that day, 72-64. Since then, the Hilltoppers had won four straight over Kirtland. But on Jan. 11, in a pulse-pounding thrilling final two minutes of regulation and overtime, the host Hornets finally got over the hump against their neighbors from across the Lake-Geauga county line with a 74-65 victory. Senior Vince Carriero poured in a game-high 31 points for the Hornets, and junior Ben DiFranco tallied 17 points and nine rebounds. Kirtland (5-4) led for most of the game and appeared to have the win in hand, leading, 63-55, with 2:06 left to play in the fourth quarter. But Chardon sophomore standout guard Luke Galfidi had other ideas. After splitting two free throws, he had three consecutive steals, scoring on the first, dishing to junior teammate AJ Petrella for another bucket on the second, and then drawing a foul and sinking two free throws on the third, cutting the deficit to 63-62 with 39 seconds to play. Kirtland missed a pair of free throws, and Chardon called time out with 24 seconds left. Then Galfidi found sophomore Rocco Tarantino open on the wing, and Tarantino buried a 3 to give Chardon a 65-63 lead with 12 seconds to go. What was once a comfortable lead looked like it would be a stunning loss for the Hornets, but Carriero saw DiFranco cutting to the basket in the final seconds, passed it to him, and DiFranco converted just before the buzzer to send the game to overtime at 65-65. The overtime period itself was anticlimactic. DiFranco and senior Aiden Hurd hustled for rebounds, Hurd scored four points, and Kirtland came up big defensively, shutting out the Hilltoppers in the extra session, 9-0. Carriero didn’t know how long it had been since Kirtland last beat Chardon in basketball. “I know we’ve lost to them every year I’ve been here playing, and I wanted to beat them once before I left,” he said. “I think we got too frantic in the final two minutes (of regulation) and we had to slow the pace down (in overtime). We just had to play like we were supposed to, and I think we did that in overtime, and it just went our way.” @kirtlandsports senior Vince Carriero (game-high 31 points) breaks down Kirtland’s 74-65 overtime win over Chardon pic.twitter.com/ctXZ47YHBR — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) January 11, 2025 The game was chaotic at times with bodies falling to the floor, turnovers following turnovers, missed shots and offensive rebounds leading to multiple shot attempts. But there were plenty of good moments as well, in a game that neither team led by more than four until Kirtland built a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter and led by eight with two minutes left. “It’s a step in our progression,” Kirtland coach Shawn McGregor said of the victory. “We played a lot of tough teams early in the year, and we had lapses in those games and gave up leads, and it stayed that way. “So today, it was good, even when we gave up the fourth quarter lead, and came back and got the win in overtime, I think it shows we’re growing as a team. Guys are starting to step into their roles. I’m excited, it’s a great win. Chardon’s well-coached, and they play hard.” @kirtlandsports Coach Shawn McGregor goes over Kirtland’s 74-65 overtime win over Chardon (Part 1) pic.twitter.com/hhxhgdPoNz — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) January 11, 2025 Kirtland finished quarters well, scoring the last basket in each. DiFranco beat the buzzer with a putback in the first frame for a 20-18 lead, Carriero hit a runner to give the Hornets a 33-30 halftime lead, junior Lucas Renfro (11 points) sank a corner 3 for a 48-45 third quarter advantage, and then Carriero’s assist to DiFranco sent the game to overtime. “Ben is a ball of energy,” McGregor said of DiFranco. “He’s tall (6-foot-4) and long, he’s very skilled, and his basketball IQ is very good. And with Vince, having a four-year player handling the ball and making most of your crucial decisions in a game, that really helps.” @kirtlandsports Coach Shawn McGregor reviews the Hornets’ 74-65 overtime win over Chardon (Part 2) pic.twitter.com/qOHOh2vMdG — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) January 11, 2025 A never-say-die effort by Chardon, led by sophomore guards Galfidi and Tarantino, who scored 22 points each, culminated in the gallant late fourth quarter effort that sent the game to overtime. The Hilltoppers, who beat Kirtland in the final seconds in a 90-88 thriller last year, dropped to 4-5 on the season, having lost four straight. Chardon coach Chad Murawski has 99 wins in his career. “Coach McGregor is an unbelievable coach,” Murawski said of his Kirtland counterpart. “His team always plays hard. This is always a tough place to play for us, and we knew it would be a four-quarter battle. We didn’t come out the way we should have to start the game, but we battled back. They kept fighting. It’s a tough loss because those guys in that locker room deserve (to win) because of how hard they work.” @toppernation Coach Chad Murawski discusses Chardon’s 74-65 overtime loss at Kirtland pic.twitter.com/hVNOvlCNaf — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) January 11, 2025 Both teams will be back in action on January 14, when Chardon will host North and Kirtland will host Beachwood. The score Kirtland 74, Chardon 65 (OT)