ATHENS – Winder-Barrow and Clarke Central must enjoy playing each other, because for the fifth-straight time, the two boys basketball teams needed extra time to decide the game.

The Bulldoggs won the first four times, but Tuesday in Athens the Gladiators broke an even longer streak, seven straight losses to WBHS.

The home team topped Winder-Barrow 62-57 in overtime to knock the Doggs from the top spot in Region 8-AAAA North.

It was 50-50 at the end of regulation, thanks to two of Trent Demeritte’s game-high 26 points on a fast-break layup with a minute remaining in the fourth.

Winder-Barrow was able to tie the game to force overtime, but they couldn’t rally to force a second.

Gladiators senior Arion Bolds (12 points) sank a long three-pointer to put the Doggs down three points early in the overtime.

“We lost our poise a bit in the beginning of overtime,” said WBHS Head Coach David Sokol.

Trying to respond to the trey Winder-Barrow turned the ball over on their next two possessions, both of which Clarke Central converted into layups for a 57-50 lead with 1:25 remaining.

Demeritte made a layup and a three to close within four with just over 30 seconds, but the Doggs could not get closer.

Throughout most of the game it was the Glads who couldn’t close the gap, as WBHS held the lead from midway through the first until CCHS center Babatunde Olumyiwa slammed the ball for a 34-33 lead with three minutes left in the third.

The two opponents stayed close the rest of the way, thanks to a solid effort by Doggs center Alonzo Nelson-Ododa in his first game back from an ankle injury.

The junior scored 11 points and grabbed 18 rebounds playing opposite Olumyiwa.

“Zo (Nelson-Ododa) was a warrior on the boards,” Sokol said. “He outplayed his opponent.”

Winder-Barrow will have a chance to rebound when they host Habersham Friday at 8:30. They host rival Apalachee Saturday.