Free throw shots prove to be costly for the Lions
Austin – With the Lions Leading 70-65, senior forward Chris Wells and junior guard Darrion Martin missed the front end of one-and-ones and Dallas Kimball outscored the Lions 13-5 in the last 1:43 seconds of the game, to cap its second straight title, defeating Yates by a score of 78-75 in the Class 4A State Final Saturday evening at the Frank Erwin Center.
The shots that could have made a difference in Yates first loss of the year to 4A School, didn’t fall. Wells and Martin filled with what ifs, after missing the front end of one-and-ones with under a minute left. This season marked the first loss in the title game since joining the UIL in the mid to late 60’s.
Yates coach Gregg Wise said, “We missed a couple of one-and-ones and they made theirs (Kimball). Our best player didn’t have a good shooting day, but I give credit to Kimball, they played well. It came down to a couple shots we didn’t make.”
With 2:00 minutes left, the Lions pushed its lead to five, 68-63 when JC Washington took a feed from Santee for a layup. Meanwhile, the Knights realizing time was a factor, drilled three game changing three 3-pointers. Shannon Lilly’s trey cut the deficit, 72-70.
Following, Santee’s long baseball pass found Washington near the basket for a quick dunk, stretching the lead, 74-70. Moments later, Wells missed the front end of a one and one. That’s when, junior guard Torrey Henry connected on the first of two 3-pointers, to draw Kimball within a point. On the other end, Martin’s foul shot fell short, bouncing off the rim. That allowed Henry to get in position for the game winning trey.
Damyean Dotson, who the Lions couldn’t seem to find throughout, led Yates with 23 points, Darrion Martin had 12, and Chris Wells added 10.
The Knights, for whom Shannon Lilly, Jr. scored 27, with Keith Frazier scoring 17 and Torrey Henry added 12.
Yates entered the game with high title hopes, starting the season top ranked and as it entered the title game.
The Lions trailed for most of the first quarter before Martin’s layup paired with Jonah Jackson’s free throws tied the game at 11 to end the quarter.
Yates began the second quarter with a 7-0 run that resulted from a couple Martin steals. Maurice Ellis, Santee, and Martin were all part the run that ended when Lilly stroked a 3-pointer from the left wing to pull the Knights within five points, 19-14.
Each time the Lions stretched its lead, Kimball closed it, not letting Yates get its normal double-digit runs, was huge for the Knights. Kimball used the deep pass for layups and timely three pointers, to break free from Yates press, which factored.
Up 36-30 entering the third quarter, Ellis scored a pair of close range baskets. The Lions led 40-32 after Frazier’s Layup.
Kimball fans erupted when the quarter turned in favor of the Knights. Lilly poured in ten points, including back-to-back treys, tying the game at 48 and took a two-point lead on his free throws that followed. Santee’s layup, tied it at 50 and Dotson’s shot in the lane was good with a foul shot to come, 53-50. Kimball’s forward Darian Hancock closed the quarter with a midrange jumper to setup a thrilling fourth quarter.
“I’m so excited I can’t start crying. All year long this group of kids, young group. Someone always found away to step up, that’s what we talked about at the start of the game”, Kimball’s coach Royce Johnson said. We said it at halftime and at the start of the fourth quarter. Somebody is going to have to make a big shot. However, we knew we wasn’t going to stop shooting it. We talked about finding away to win and not being afraid to lose. I have confidence in my guys, they did it all year.
Santee’s jumper broke up a seesaw game, leading up to the last 2:59 seconds, with Yates up 66-60. As the game continued, Kimball stayed within two possessions of the lead until the last second dramatics.
For Yates, comes an end to its stay in 4A, as it will move down to Class 3A due to a drop in attendance.
