CLARION — It was a game that featured almost as many fouls as points in the first half. Ridgway led, 14-8, and it felt as though the scorekeepers might have added a few points to both sides’ tally.

Neither team found a rhythm on offense for more than a few possessions at a time. Both teams combined for just four 3-pointers, with enough missed shots to guarantee neither side ever felt comfortable.

But in the end, No. 2 Ridgway, limiting a No. 1 Redbank Valley team that averaged 58 points per game entering the night to just 38, gutted out a 41-38 win to clinch the District 9 Class AA boys basketball championship.

RBV took a quick 5-1 lead to start the first quarter as Bryson Bain hit a trey and Chris Marshall eurostepped his way to two points. Then the foul trouble began, as Dom Allegretto fouled twice in the first few minutes, forcing the Elkers to rotate more in order to keep him eligible.

But despite the four-point deficit and neither side appearing comfortable on offense, Ridgway began to find its groove. Aaron Sorg put Ridgway ahead with a 3-pointer and layup while Dan Park added two free throws.

Both teams were intent on attacking the rim and whistles began to blow with increasing frequency as tempers rose.

Marshall got called for a technical for hanging onto the rim in an attempt at a dunk. A few minutes later, the Elkers were taking the ball up the court and Dan Park set a screen on RBV’s Marquese Gardlock. The screen worked, but Gardlock pushed Park in the back, which elicited another whistle.

But in the third quarter, the Bulldogs found their rhythm. They went on a 13-6 run to take a 21-20 lead. Bain hit another triple and made two free throws while Marshall got two layups.

“They kept punching us in the mouth,” said Ridgway coach Tony Allegretto. “We kept handing the ball back to them. Both teams battled underneath, both teams battled defensively.”

In the fourth, both teams started to come alive on offense, too.

Up 28-27, Sorg hit a clutch layup for Ridgway. Owen Clouse had an instant answer with a 3-pointer for RBV. Immediately after, Dom Allegretto took the ball the length of the court and got a transition layup.

The Bulldogs went to a full court press and forced multiple turnovers. Marshall went 5-for-6 from the free throw line to give RBV crucial points while Gardlock scored another six points of his own.

But Ridgway leaned on Park and he delivered. He scored eight points in the fourth and was a menace for the Elkers all game under the rim. Despite not being the tallest player on the court, he constantly fought off Bulldog players to grab the boards and finished with 18 points overall.

“He was big, he was out-jumping people today, he was coming down with the big rebounds in the second half,” said Allegretto. “He’s our leader, him and Dom. They’re our senior leadership and they just got on board and it was beautiful to see.”

The game still could have gone either way. But with under a minute left, Erik Panebianco out jumped two defenders and made a short bounce-pass to Park, who laid the ball in and gave Ridgway the points needed to secure the win.

Tony Allegretto is set to retire when Ridgway’s season comes to a close. Win or lose against RBV, he and the Elkers were always set to have at least one more game. But regardless of how the Elkers fare in the PIAA tournament, both team and coach will always be D9 champions.

“I’m happy for the seniors, I’m elated for my son,” said Allegretto. “We weren’t expected to win and we did. At the beginning of the year, we weren’t one of the top teams and we are now… It’s always fun to play those extra games. We’ll take some time off and get back to work on Monday. These kids are just excited.”

The team was excited — they knew that it was the last chance at a D9 title for Allegretto and they didn’t want to waste it.

“It felt really good to win this one for Coach, considering he’s gonna be done,” said Park. “It means everything to me (and the team). He’s been coaching me since I was a freshman… To let him go out on top feels like I paid my dues for him.”

AT CLARION

Ridgway (41)

Park 8 2-2 18, Allegretto 3 8-10 14, Sorg 3 2-3 9. Totals: 14 12-15 41

Redbank Valley (38)

Marshall 4 5-7 13, Bain 2 3-4 9, Gardlock 3 2-3 8, Clouse 2 3-4 8, M. Clouse 0 0-2 0. Totals: 9 13-20 38

Ridgway 8 14 22 41

Redbank Valley 5 8 21 38

Three-point goals: Ridgway 1 (Sorg), RBV (Bain 2, Clouse); Total fouls: Ridgway 17, RBV 17; fouled out: Park