Jonathan Johnson’s triple pushed Mercer out to a 5-3 lead with 6:10 left, but all of a sudden, Worth County started hitting everything they threw up. Aydan Gladstone hit Alex Rinehart for three, Gladstone got a drive and pullup from the high post, Jackson Runde hit Caleb Parman for three, Alex Rinehart hit Caleb for another three, and Alex Rinehart scored a driving layup to make it 16-5 with 3:04 left in the first.
There was a heartstopping moment at the 2:11 mark when Austin Nix and Jacob New had an epic collision, New sprained his ankle, and was done for the night. Without one of their floor leaders on the court, Worth County struggled as Mercer started to come back, scoring the last nine points to close to within 19-16.
But then Bryant McCord, who came in for New, stepped up and played one of his best games as a Tiger; while he didn’t score, he turned into a force on the boards, leading Worth County with 10. The bleeding stopped when Isaiah Morgana picked up his third foul for Mercer and Caleb Parman went to the line with 4:31 left and hit both free throws to make it 22-18.
Hunter Shipley, Mercer’s undersized post player, who can step out and pop a guarded three, was a master intimidator for the red squad. Armed with a glare in his eyes, he was the heart and soul of Mercer’s squads over the last two years thanks to his relentless ability to attack the rim, throw people around, and fight for every loose ball. Once, his coach, Jeff Wyatt, during a game with North Harrison last year, proceeded to lecture his team about playing under control and not getting too rough and physical since the Cardinals had the game well in hand. As Shipley looked at him wide-eyed in disbelief, Wyatt said, “Yes, I’m looking at you!” Shipley got loose inside twice to finally knot the game up at 25 with 1:33 left in the second for his Cardinals.
But every time Mercer would catch up, Worth County would respond. Alex Rinehart hit a guarded three with 53 seconds left to put Worth County back in front and the Tigers went into the locker with a 28-26 halftime lead.
Rinehart scored off a drive to start the second half to make it 30-26, but then Shipley and the Cardinals started coming back again; he got a drive and reverse layup to go down to make it 30-28. The game turned into a defensive struggle for the next three minutes, with neither team able to score until Camden Hartley’s putback knotted it up again at 30. Shipley got behind the Tiger defense for a backdoor layup and Mercer looked like they were about to take control, up 32-30. But then Caleb Parman went on a spurt, getting a drive after a pass from Jackson Runde, hitting a 3-pointer after a drive and kickout from Alex Rinehart, and going coast to coast and drawing Isaiah Morgana’s fourth foul to make it 37-32 with 2:37 left.
But with one of their key players in Morgana out, it was Mercer who rallied, as Hartley scored from inside, Jonathan Johnson scored off a steal, and Hunter Shipley aired one out to Johnson to put Mercer back in front 38-37.
A key sequence put Worth County back in front in the final 17 seconds. Caleb Parman scored off a drive with 17 seconds left to make it 39-38; then, Mercer pulled the trigger prematurely and Aydan Gladstone drove the length of the floor and hit a layup at the buzzer to put Worth County in front 41-38.
Worth County looked to have the momentum to start the fourth after that play, but Jonathan Johnson’s guarded three tied it up again and Kaden Graham came off the bench and his drive put Mercer up 45-43 with 5:35 left. But just like they had all game, Worth County responded when Mercer tied or took the lead; Ayden Gladstone got a drive and threw up a prayer and Jackson Runde got loose in transition and Alex Rinehart got him the ball to make it 47-45 with 4:47 left.
Caleb Parman put Worth County up 50-47 with 3:14 left with a three, but Hunter Shipley answered with one of his own after coming off a double screen and Morgana connected from the high post to put Mercer back in front 52-50 with 2:11 left. Mercer got a stop and the ball back, but Morgana missed and Alex Rinehart hit a guarded three with 1:20 left to put Worth County back in front 53-52.
Mercer rushed it right back down the court and Shipley was isolated on Bryant McCord. But McCord stood his ground and took the charge, giving the ball back to Worth County.
The Tigers ran it down to 35 seconds, but then Mercer, who was playing for the turnover, got one as Cauy Taff, who had come off the bench, made the play and got the steal. Mercer got the ball to Shipley, and he tried to drive down the left side, but dribbled off his foot, but luckily into the hands of Johnson with 18 seconds left.
Mercer took a timeout and got Johnson a good look from the left wing, but he missed it and Aydan Gladstone got the defensive board with 9.1 seconds left from two red shirts. He was fouled and went to the line for a 1-1. Gladstone had missed some free throws in that situation several times, but this time, he stepped up and made both to make it 55-52.
The Cardinals got it into their end and called timeout with 7.7 seconds left. They tried to set up a ball screen to spring Johnson loose for a tying three. But he dribbled off one of the gold shirts’ feet and the ball caromed into the backcourt. He rushed up and threw up a half-court heave, but it was long and off the heel of the rim as time expired.
Caleb Parman had 24 points for Worth County. Alex Rinehart had 16, Aydan Gladstone 8, and Jackson Runde 7.
Aydan Gladstone had 1 block.
Bryant McCord had 10 boards. Caleb Parman had 8, Aydan Gladstone 6, Jackson Runde 4, Alex Rinehart 3, and Jacob New 2.
Aydan Gladstone had 7 assists. Alex Rinehart and Jackson Runde had 3 each, while Caleb Parman had 2.
Aydan Gladstone had 5 tips, while Alex Rinehart had 3 and Jackson Runde had 2. Caleb Parman and Aydan Gladstone had 2 steals each, while Jackson Runde and Alex Rinehart had 1.
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