T.J. Thomas’ half-court heave was a practice shot
It took for FACS to be in a big game to garner traction from a lot of people. And in the one big game, the Crusaders needed just one shot to become this season’s Division II-A West Region Tournament Champions.…
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Continue ReadingIt took for FACS to be in a big game to garner traction from a lot of people.
And in the one big game, the Crusaders needed just one shot to become this season’s Division II-A West Region Tournament Champions.
With 2.9 seconds left in the game, Lausanne was up 51-50 and seemed in position to win the game and secure a first-round bye in the Division II-A Boys State Tournament.
With no timeouts, junior guard T.J. Thomas got the ball at full-court, dribbled to mid-court and launched a prayer over Cisse that went through the net. Then, a swamp of fans followed and jumped all over him and the people who didn’t rush the court cheered from their seats. Lynx head coach Marvis Davis stood at his bench with a numb look, totally in shock, especially after leading by three late in the game.
Davis nor his staff could believe what had just transpired. It didn’t seem real, but when the final buzzer sounded, FACS celebrated its 53-51 win over Lausanne in a game many would call an upset.
Many would also call Thomas’ half-court heave pure luck, but head coach Dee Wilkes doesn’t think so.
“T.J. Thomas takes those shots every day at practice,” Wilkes said about Thomas, who led the team with 16 points and went 4 for 5 from the free throw line. “Every day, he’s the first one on the court. He comes out and shoots half-court shots every day. When the time in winding down in the game, he wants that shot. And when he shot that shot, my assistant coach said “He’s making that.’ And it went straight in.”
There were seven lead changes in the first quarter. The Crusaders led for the entire second and third quarters. FACS surrendered its lead midway through the fourth quarter. Both teams traded leads in the final four and a half minutes of the game. Sophomore guard Corey Savage fouled Cisse, sending him to the free throw line. He made one of two.
At that point, the Lynx were up 50-47 and just needed to play smart defense, but instead, Savage was left wide open on the right wing for the 3 to tie the game at 50-all. Cisse got fouled again and would again split free throws, giving his team a one-point lead.
The Crusaders were out of timeouts, so their only option was to put up a shot at half-court. The good thing is that FACS came out on the positive end of the game.
Wilkes never questioned his team’s heart and fight. He was the one who believed his team could have a special season. Well, now, the Crusaders are sitting at 26-3 overall, with a first-round bye in the Division II-A Boys State Tournament.
“I know the team I have, and we have been finding ways to win all year,” Wilkes said. “I told them before the game ‘If we stick to the game plan, we’re going to come out victorious.’ I have trust in these guys. We came in today and had a great shoot around.
“We went over the game plan, and with four sophomores and one senior, you can’t ask for a better day. They came out and made some big shots. Lausanne is a tough team, well coached. For us to come out with the win, that says something about us.”
Sophomore wing Daniel Egbuniwe finished with 11 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. Sophomore guard Kobe Wilkes and junior guard Josh Ward each had 10.
Cisse led Lausanne with 23 points, 20 rebounds, five blocks, three assists and two steals.
All-Tournament Team
Alex Anderson (Tipton-Rosemark Academy), Kameron Jones (ECS), Johnathan DeJurnett (Lausanne), Wilkes, Cisse and Egbuniwe were all named to the All-Tournament Team.
Third place game
ECS defeated Tipton-Rosemark Academy, 61-47, to get clinch the third seed in the Division II-A Boys State Tournament. The Eagles were led by junior guard Dominic Brown’s 24 points. Jones finished with 19. Brown made five of the team’s 11 3s. Anderson led the Rebels with 14 points.