The Wildcats junior saved his best for last.

Gormley tied the game on a putback with 4.2 seconds remaining in regulation, and added two more buckets in overtime as Sherman rallied for a 64-61 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 2 West victory in overtime against Frewsburg on Thursday night.

Things looked bleak late for the Wildcats (7-4, 5-2).

The Bears (9-4, 3-3) took a 55-51 lead on a pair of Brad Nelson free throws with 20.6 seconds remaining, but John Swabik answered with a bucket to make it 55-53 with 14.1 seconds left.

Sherman’s Keith Gormley (12) has his shot blocked by Frewsburg’s Aaron Hair while the Bears’ Peyton Hayes (24) helps on defense during their CCAA Division 2 West boys basketball game Thursday in Sherman. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

Frewsburg then turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds play and Sherman capitalized as Gormley rebounded a missed 3-pointer and scored to tie the game.

“That one is on me,” Frewsburg head coach Tom Nelson said. “The play we designed, I wanted him to run the baseline and throw the inbounds pass, but they defended it. … That was a coaching mistake.”

After a timeout, the Bears ran an inbounds play that ended with a look at a three-quarter court 3-pointer, but the attempt was wide at the buzzer.

Jameson Sposato gave Frewsburg its only lead of the overtime with a bucket to open the period, but Gormley scored on another putback and Justiss Hannold followed with a basket to put the Wildcats up by two.

“He showed up huge down the stretch,” Sherman head coach Cory Emory said of Gormley. “He had a couple of big rebounds on both ends of the floor during the fourth quarter.”

Frewsburg’s Aaron Hair shoots in the lane while Sherman’s Bryce Fisher (20) defends during Thursday’s game. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

Gormley then answered a missed Bears 3-pointer with another basket to give Sherman a four-point lead and Carris rebounded a missed front end of a one-and-one before converting two free throws of his own to put the hosts up by six.

“We talk about little things,” Emory said. “There are little things that happen in games that we lost close, and little things in a game that we won close. Hopefully we’re learning from that.”

Nelson hit two free throws and Aaron Hair followed with two more free throws to make it 63-61 with 17.8 seconds left.

Gormley made a free throw with 15.9 seconds left to give the Wildcats a three-point lead, setting up one last effort for Frewsburg, but a skip pass from one sideline to the other over the Sherman defense led Sposato out of bounds, dashing their hopes.

“With 14 seconds and the ball, it would’ve been nice to get a better opportunity,” Coach Nelson said. “We didn’t have a chance to really run something that we’re accustomed to. I knew they’d be on Brad, I told Jameson he’d be the guy open … we just threw the pass out of bounds.”

Swabik led the Wildcats with 21 points and 10 rebounds to go along with three steals and three assists.

“He’s got one gear, it’s full speed,” Coach Nelson said of Swabik. “You need to help out, move your feet, take a charge. … He’s a tremendous athlete.”

Nelson finished with 26 points, including 13-of-13 free throw shooting, to go along with seven rebounds and a pair of assists.

“He’s a very, very good, crafty player. He’s so smart and his basketball IQ is very high. He understands body contact, he understands how to play the game,” Emory said of Nelson. ” … He puts you in bad defensive situations, half because of his talent and half because of his smarts.”

Sherman left the first quarter with a 12-11 lead after Swabik hit a bad-angle shot on the baseline at the buzzer. Frewsburg led 24-19 late in the second quarter, but Swabik scored on his team’s final two trips down the floor to make it a one-point game at halftime.

“I don’t think John understands how good he actually is, or could be,” Emory said. ” … He’s hard on himself, which is what makes him so good. … He’s a difference maker.”

The Bears put together a nearly flawless third quarter, going 7 of 15 from the floor, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range, and not turning the ball over at all. Freshman Zack Carr hit three triples in the quarter to help Frewsburg lead 44-38 with eight minutes left. The margin would’ve been greater if not for another buzzer-beater from Swabik, this time a 3-pointer.

“This is the toughest time of the year,” Emory said. ” … It’s amazing how winning this thing by three instead of losing it by three changed their mindset. … Win or lose, both teams learned from tonight.”

NOTES: Carris had 15 points and three steals while Gormley had seven rebounds and four assists. … Hair had 11 points and 10 rebounds. … Sherman was 26 of 57 (45.6%) from the field, including 4 of 21 (19%) from 3-point range, and turned the ball over 11 times. … Frewsburg was 17 of 52 (32.7%) from the field, including 6 of 21 (28.6%) from 3-point range, and turned the ball over 14 times. … Sherman won the jayvee game, 47-41, behind 22 points from Elijah Kioko and 13 points from Brayden Hayes. Kelson Laska led Frewsburg with 16 points and Trent Bjork had 12.

FREWSBURG (61)

ZCarr 3 0 9, Sposato 1 0 2, Nelson 5 13 26, CCarr 0 0 0, Murray 0 0 0, Hayes 3 1 7, Hair 3 5 11, Winters 2 2 6. Totals 17 20 61.

SHERMAN (64)

Hannold 2 0 5, Swabik 10 0 21, Carris 5 4 15, Swan 0 0 0, Sears 0 0 0, Gormley 3 1 7, Fisher 2 0 4, Mitchell 2 0 4, Majcharzak 1 3 5, Lamoni 1 0 3. Totals 26 8 64.

3-point goals–ZCarr 3, Nelson 3, Hannold, Swabik, Carris, Lamoni.

Frewsburg 11 13 20 11 6 — 61

Sherman 12 11 15 17 9 — 64

Jayvees: Sherman won, 47-41.