Shane Wagner’s prayer was answered last night.

With five seconds remaining in the nonleague game against Shenango, the senior guard attempted to keep the basketball from going out of bounds by heaving a backward shot over his head that banked in for three points to give the Greyhounds a 64-61 victory.

“They were playing good defense on Shane and he dribbled off his leg, so he went to get the ball and threw it,” Wilmington coach Will Harris said. “I was hoping it would hit off the backboard so we could have a chance to get the rebound.

“I didn’t think it had a chance (to go in). I was screaming to get the rebound; it was something that I’d never seen before.”

Shenango’s Rich Gaston hit a shot in the post with 14 seconds to go to tie it. “We were down by 12 and we got back in the game,” said Shenango coach Bob McQuiston, still stunned by what happened next. “Then Wagner, from about 28 feet out, was falling out of bounds away from the basket as he threw it over his head and it banked in.”

The Greyhounds (9-5) took a 33-28 lead at the half and led 45-39 at the end of the third quarter.

Gaston led Shenango (6-10) with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Mike Murcko followed with 19 points.

“I’m proud of the effort,” McQuiston said. “We battled back and we didn’t quit, and that’s important. It’s good in one way, but it’s obviously disappointing to get the loss.”

Wagner led Wilmington with 20 points. Jake DeMedal followed with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals. Ian Kelly added 11 points while Dallas Hartman had nine points and a team-leading nine rebounds for the Greyhounds. “It was nice to see Jake have a game like that,” Harris said. “We talked the other day and the only thing I told him he was missing was a lack of self confidence.

“I hope the game gives him that and that he plays to his ability because he’s a good basketball player.”

Members of Wilmington’s football team were on hand and following the contest, a banner was raised to honor Greyhounds’ Class AA state championship.

“Since half the guys on the basketball team were members of the football team, it was nice to get a win before that ceremony,” Harris said.