'We'll be back, I promise:' Lakota West falls at buzzer in Division I state semifinal
FAIRBORN, Ohio – The Lakota West boys basketball team has prided itself on defense all season.
Needing one stop to keep its state championship hopes alive, the Firebirds faltered as Reynoldsburg junior Xavier McKinney scored a layup at the buzzer to end their season.
West lost 64-63 to Reynoldsburg in a state semifinal of the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I tournament Sunday at Wright State University's Nutter Center.
West finishes 21-6 as the Raiders (26-1) advanced to next weekend’s state championship game against Olentangy Orange.
“I’m proud of our guys,” said head coach Kelven Moss. “We played extremely hard and had some great execution towards the end of the game.”
West was in the state semifinals for the first time after tying for second in the rugged Greater Miami Conference.
“We knew if we could put everything together, we could be in this position,” Moss said. “They competed their butts off this year. Excited for next year, proud of my seniors.”
Reynoldsburg won the game after its leading scorer, senior Jordan Fisher (19.5 ppg.) stepped to the foul line with three seconds to play and West leading, 63-61.
Fisher, an 81-percent foul shooter, made the first. After a timeout, he missed the second, but neither team could control the rebound and the ball went out of bounds on the baseline for a Reynoldsburg possession with only one second to go.
Senior point guard Damon Griffin passed the ball to McKinney, who was wide open on the left side of the basket. The junior Ohio University commit calmly put it in before the buzzer sounded.
McKinney said the pass was supposed to go to 6-6 senior Toby Nwokolo, a Toledo signee. McKinney started the play at the top of the key. He curled around a screen and said he was supposed to go to the opposite corner for a 3-pointer, but his defender got caught in traffic, leaving him open by the basket.
“I was surprised I was open myself,” McKinney said. “I just got it and went up with it.”
Moss said they were expecting a lob pass to Nwokolo.
“We talked about the coverage right there,” Moss said. “Stay at home, switch everything and communicate everything, and we didn’t do that. Great execution on Reynoldsburg’s end. They drew up a nice play to end the game.”
Second half had twists and turns
The last-second layup spoiled a strong fourth quarter for the Firebirds, who trailed by nine, 51-42, to start the frame.
Bryce Curry started the quarter with a 3-pointer, starting a 12-2 run in which every Firebirds starter scored. Tyson hit a 3-pointer, and senior center L.J. Green scored in close to give West a 54-53 lead.
Fisher, an Ohio University signee, scored six quick points to put the Raiders up four at 59-55. Curry hit another triple, then stole a pass in the backcourt. He made a quick outlet to Tyson Davis for a layup and a 60-59 Firebirds lead.
Tyson made three of four free throws to put West up four at 63-59 with 20 seconds left.
“We came back but it doesn’t really mean anything because we didn’t finish the game,” Tyson said. “We knew we didn’t come this far for nothing. We knew it was a game of runs, and we had to get our run or we would have lost by 20. I’m proud of our team. We came so far.”
First half highlights: Firebirds came to play against favored foe
West never backed down against a team that was ranked second in the Ohio Super 25 state poll.
Tyson and Green had seven points apiece in the first half, and senior Isaiah Meade-Moss nine.
West led 29-26 and held Fisher to two points and Nwokolo to three.
“Their style of play gives you opportunities to stick around if you get some stops,” Moss said. “We started making some shots and started being more confident. Reynoldsburg played really well. They stepped up defensively more than they have in the past. They were prepared. It was a great game.”
Reynoldsburg controlled the third quarter, outscoring West 25-13 to take that nine-point lead. Griffin had 9 points in the quarter. Fisher had seven. Nwokolo had 4 points plus some tough rebounds and a couple of blocks, and junior Jorden Bowens, another Ohio University commit, had 5.
Final stats
All five West starters had 8 points or more. Davis finished with 8 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
Tyson had 18 points, 7 assists and 4 blocks. Meade-Moss scored 16 with 5 rebounds. Green had 11 points, 6 rebounds and Curry finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists.
Griffin had 16 points and 8 assists for Reynoldsburg. Bowens scored 15, Fisher 14 and McKinney 12, while Nwokolo had 7 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks.
"They were way better than I expected," McKinney said. "I give my props to them. Well-coached team. They played hard."
Even with both defenses contesting everything at the rim, both teams shot 50 percent from the floor and West outrebounded the Raiders by two. Both teams shot poorly from the foul line, with Reynoldsburg 66 percent (14-21) and West 59 percent (13-22).
“We hang our hats on defense, especially down the stretch of our season,” Moss said. “We guarded really well. They have DI athletes so it’s hard to keep them in front of you. I’m proud of our guys.”
Senior salute
The Firebirds lose five seniors, three who played in the semis in starters Meade-Moss and Green, and Aaron Phipps.
Tyson, a sophomore, was the leading scorer at more than 15 points per game, and sophomore Bryce Curry second at 12.
“It’s a tough loss but we’re moving past it,” Tyson said. “It was a terrible way to lose but we’re all going to keep our heads high. It came down to one play but you can’t blame any specific one or two people. It was a tough loss, but we’ll be back, I promise.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lakota West loses at the buzzer in Division I state semifinal
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