Nick Babinski’s free throws with 2.8 seconds left propelled North Harrison’s boys to a 60-58 win over Gilman City, a nice recovery from a forgettable first round, in which they lost to Tri-County 87-50. They won handily over Union Star, and then had to play again against Gilman City, with whom they coop with in football; naturally, both teams wanted to beat each other.
There were still some fireworks after Nick grabbed an offensive glass, drew the foul, and sunk both free throws. Gilman City called timeout and inbounded it to Landon Preston, who took a couple of dribbled and launched a heave from two thirds court, which was right on target. But it bounced harmlessly off the back of the iron and the Shamrocks were able to come away with the win.
There have been a number of long heaves that won games or that nearly did so. In 1992, during North Harrison’s second run to state in four years, Albany’s Kevin Ward threw up a 60 foot prayer at Lamkin Gym (now Bearcat Arena) that rolled around the rim before bouncing out. Brandon Craig recalled being camped under the basket for that play, and that it would have plunked him in the head had it gone in. A few years ago, Stanberry used a full court heave to beat South Harrison. During a junior varsity game between Worth County and South Harrison in the late 2000’s, Cole Parman’s full court heave won the game for the Tigers. At the junior high level two years ago, Worth County’s girls were inbounding underneath their own basket with 3 seconds left a few years ago and tried to send it long, but Avenue City’s Kayla Beam stole it and won it with her half court heave.
North Harrison seemed to have the game under control after getting the ball back with 1:20 with a 58-56 lead after the Hawks had thrown it away after North Harrison had switched from their 1-2-2, which they had played all night, to man. But with 58 seconds left, Preston got a steal and fed Brody Langfitt to tie it with 58 seconds left. A bad pass gave the ball back to the Hawks with 37 seconds, but Preston missed a runner with 22 seconds left and lost the rebound out of bounds.
The Hawks went into a full court press and North Harrison broke it and ran it down to 10.6 seconds. They took timeout and set up a shot, which missed, but Babinski was there for the rebound.
Neither team led by more than 6 the whole way. Both teams were red hot in the first quarter, which Brandon Hamilton getting the hot hand for North Harrison and putting his team ahead 9-5 at one point. But the hot shooting of Kyler Preston put the Hawks back in front, and Landon Preston’s putback with 32 seconds left in the first put Gilman up 19-16.
Brody Langfitt put the Hawks ahead by 5 twice in the second quarter, but Nick Babinski’s putback and Keygun Johnson’s free throws knotted up the game at 30-30 with 30 seconds left. But Kyler Preston hit a shot to put Gilman City back in front, and then Brody Langfitt got a steal and converted at the buzzer to put Gilman City up 34-30 at the half.
Langfitt put the Hawks ahead by their biggest margin, 36-30, to start the second half, but then Tyson Gibson grabbed a ball that caromed off Brandon Hamilton and scored. Peyton Taggart hit two free throws for the Hawks, but Gibson got a putback to make it 38-34 again. Finally, Wade Briggs hit a 3-pointer with 3:27 left off a pass from Cooper Cracraft to knot it at 39. Langfitt’s steal put Gilman City ahead 45-41, but then Tyson Gibson’s free throws and Matthew Heintz’s transition basket after a Wade Briggs pass and Nick Babinski tip and steal knotted it up again at 45 before Landon Preston united it for Gilman City after three.
Somehow, despite turning the ball over 22 times during the game, North Harrison was still in a position to win it in the fourth quarter, and Brandon Hamilton’s transition basket and Wade Briggs’ free throw put North Harrison in front 48-47 to start the period. They led by as much as 52-49 before Brody Langfitt’s three tied it up at 52 with 5:03 left. The game was tied at 54 and 56 before Keygun Johnson hit Tyson Gibson backdoor to put North Harrison in front 58-56 with 2:50 left to set up the final fireworks.
Tyson Gibson had 18 for the Shamrocks. Nick Babinski had 16, Brandon Hamilton 11, Wade Briggs 7, and Keygun Johnson and Matthew Heintz 4 each.
Tyson Gibson went beast mode on the boards, getting 15 for the night. Nick Babinski had 12, Wade Briggs and Brandon Hamilton had 6 each, Cooper Cracraft 5, and Matthew Heintz 3.
Wade Briggs was getting surrounded all night, but was able to pass it out to the open person most of the time; he had 8 assists. Cooper Cracraft and Keygun Johnson had 5 each, and Tyson Gibson and Nick Babinski 1 each.
Matthew Heintz had 3 tips. Wade Briggs had 2, and Keygun Johnson and Tyson Gibson 1. Nick Babinski had 3 steals, Wade Briggs 2, and Brandon Hamilton and Keygun Johnson 1 each.
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