Only this event featured no talk of NIL. Of expiring contracts. Of the transfer portal. Of coaches looking to leave, or will be fired. No extended TV breaks. No surplus of timeouts. No over-the-top marketing gimmicks. No manufactured opportunities to sell junk.<\/p>\n
Just fans. Bands. Fans. Cheerleaders. Mascots. Coaches. Players. And delicious chaos.<\/p>\n
The game had no breathing room, with both teams alternating with the precious lead at different times. Duncanville led by 2 with less than 20 seconds remaining in the game when the best of sports struck Wilkerson-Greines, right around the same time lightning popped outside the arena.<\/p>\n
North Crowley coach Tommy Brakel wanted a timeout, but guard Kameron Price was fouled on a dribble near the sideline; on the play, he suffered a leg injury and would not be able to attempt the ensuing free throws.<\/p>\n
Because the player was injured, Brakel had his pick of who he wanted off the bench to attempt the foul shots.<\/p>\n
He picked a young man who has received to what basically amounts a full academic scholarship to attend LSU to take the shots. Senior Tyler Hastings is the son of a coach, and his formal basketball career will conclude when the school year ends.<\/p>\n
He was perfect at the foul line this season – 4-for-4. Naturally, he missed the first free throw.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s the greatest kid in the world who is in the gym shooting all the time,\u201d Brakel said, \u201cand I was absolutely heart-broken when he missed that free throw.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hastings admitted, \u201cI don\u2019t know how you can\u2019t be nervous.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hastings intentionally missed the second free throw, but North Crowley\u2019s Alex Barther II collected the long offensive rebound at the 3-point line and passed it to Hastings, who was open on the right wing. His defender was just a heart beat late to give Hastings the open look.<\/p>\n
Hastings is a 31 percent shooter from 3, but in this one perfect moment he was Steph\u2019. Bird. Reggie Miller. Ray Allen.<\/p>\n
Splash.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never felt anything like that,\u201d Hastings said.<\/p>\n
Most people don\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to describe,\u201d he said. \u201cI was definitely excited.\u201d<\/p>\n
North Crowley led by one point with 14.8 seconds remaining. Duncanville missed its final shot at the rim, and the party started early as North Crowley fans rushed the floor with 0.06 seconds on the clock.<\/p>\n
North Crowley would make two more free throws for the final score of 52-49, and will return to the state title game for the first time since 2008.<\/p>\n
Win or lose, this was a great game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if I would have said that immediately, in this interview,\u201d Brakel said, \u201cbut, after some time, I\u2019d say this was a great, great high school basketball game.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was the game that made everybody involved fall in love with sports<\/p>\n
Mac Engel<\/a><\/p>\n Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n Mac Engel is an award-winning columnist who has covered sports since the dawn of man; Cowboys, TCU, Stars, Rangers, Mavericks, etc. Olympics. Movies. Concerts. Books. He combines dry wit with 1st-person reporting to complement an annoying personality.
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