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The Parma Panthers weathered a frantic Fruitland storm in the fourth quarter, sinking late free throws to win the school's first-ever boys state basketball championship, 56-47, on Saturday.
The Panthers led by as many as 18 points midway through the third quarter before Fruitland's Tyler Eiguren almost single-handedly willed the Grizzlies back into the game. A series of Eiguren buckets got Fruitland as close as one, 42-41, with 5:36 remaining, but Parma sank three free throws over its next two possessions and got a big bucket from Jared Nielsen with 2:35 remainig to re-establish a six-point lead.
It marked the first time in three meetings this season that Parma defeated Fruitland, who won the first two meetings by 28 and seven points.
Tanner Kramer led Parma with 17 points and 13 rebounds in his final game with the Panthers. The senior guard averaged 18 points per game in the tournament. Eiguren led all scorers with 23 points for Fruitland.
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