Hancock Central tried every way possible to give away the Class A Public championship, but still found a way to prevail.
The Bulldogs failed to make a 3-pointer all game – going 0-for-16 – and were successful on just 9 of 26 free throw attempts – a woeful 34.6 percent.
But somehow, thanks largely to the hustle of guard Jamal Taylor, Hancock County was able to pull out a 61-58 win over Treutlen and bring home the school’s first state championship since 2008.
“That’s not like us. We’re normally very good on 3-pointers and free throws,” coach Ricky Chatman said. “But we found a way to win.”
Hancock trailed 58-55 with 1:39 left in overtime after Cartavious Terry scored on a layup, but Hancock got to within a point when Carmichael Allen fielded a floor-length pass and laid it in with 32 seconds remaining.
Terry missed a pair of free throws with 25 seconds left and Leroy Wilson cleared the rebound for Hancock. The Bulldogs worked it to Taylor, who dropped in the go-ahead layup with 11 seconds left. Taylor then stole the ball and fired it to Jamarcus Morris, who made the add-on bucket with one second left.
“It’s been a long season, but I told our team I got us,” Taylor said. “And we proved everybody wrong … everybody. I wasn’t going to give up our team … and we won.”
Taylor led Hancock Central (28-3) with 13 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Leroy Wilson added 12 points and eight rebounds and Marquavious Lawrence added 12 points and seven rebounds.
Treutlen (30-1) managed to stay close despite having three players foul out, chief among them leading scorer Christopher Floyd, who had 22 points and five rebounds when he picked up his fifth foul with 5:29 left in regulation.
The Vikings got 13 points and 13 rebounds from Terry and eight points and 12 rebounds from Jordan.
Hancock Central got off to a slow start and trailed 7-2 before finishing the quarter on a 16-3 run to take an 18-10 lead. The Bulldogs hung on and had a 29-23 lead at halftime.
Treutlen began to creep back into the thanks Hancock’s lack of success at the line and the Vikings finally tied the game 49-49 on a steal and layup by Kamron Jordan.
Both teams had their chances in the final minute of regulation. Treutlen’s Ka’Sabin Mitchell made two of three free throws with 8.8 seconds left to tie the game. Hancock rebounded the missed shot but could not get off a last-second shot to win and the game went to overtime.
Treutlen (58): Kamron Jordan 8, Christopher Floyd 22, Ka’Sabin Mitchell 11, Cartavious Terry 13, Quentez Jordan 3, James Byrd 1.
Hancock Central (61): Darious Walker 4, Jamal Taylor 13, Treyvion Crayton 8, Carnard Chapman 4, Leroy Wilson 12, Carmichael Allen 2, Jamarcus Morris 6, Marquavious Lawrence 12.
