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Dream denied
Published February 26, 2008
JACKSONVILLE — Chances are Crossville basketball fans will never forget the two free throws Mick Hedgepeth didn’t get to shoot.
Madison Academy’s Jordan Matthews collided with Hedgepeth as he released a 10- to 12-foot baseline jumper with four seconds remaining in Saturday’s boys Class 3A, Northeast Regional championship game.
Crossville’s Jarret Williamson drew contact as he attempted a putback, the ball bouncing out of bounds with one-tenth of a second remaining.
“He fouled me, but at the end of the game, I should have known the ref’s not going to call that,” Hedgepeth said. “At the end of the game I should have been stronger, but I was hoping it was going to roll in, but it didn’t work out that way.”
The pair of no-calls by the officiating crew sealed top-ranked Madison Academy’s 49-48 decision and propelled the Mustangs (24-8) to the state tournament in Birmingham, where they will be favored to win a third consecutive championship.
The loss denied second-ranked Crossville (31-3) its first regional championship, as well as its first trip to the state tournament since 1989.
In the postgame press conference, a tear rolled down the cheek of CHS head coach Tracy Hulgan, his voice breaking at times while he discussed the game and the dashing of the Lions’ dreams of a state title.
“Life’s not fair. It’s not fair,” Hulgan said. “Their good player (Kerron Johnson) gets to shoot a free throw with a chance to win it, and our good player doesn’t get to shoot a free throw with a chance to win it. I don’t know why.
“But if anybody can handle adversity, and if anybody can deal with it, these guys will, just like a true champion. They’re without a ring or a blue trophy, but they’re a champion, I promise you.
“It’s not going to work out for them, but there will not be a team in Birmingham that worked harder, put more time in it, loved the game and loved their teammates any more than these 12 guys, and that’s a pretty strong statement. There is no one in the state who has worked more to be the best they can be than Mick and Jasen (Jonus) and their teammates.”
Crossville led 14-12 after a quarter, but Madison Academy outscored the Lions 15-3 in the second period to open up a 27-17 advantage at the half.
CHS started chipping away at its deficit in the third quarter, closing within 29-26 on two technical free throws by Jonus with 4:14 left.
Madison Academy was up 37-32 at the final break.
The Lions continued to battle, finally regaining the lead, 45-44, on Tyler Gaylor’s steal and reverse layup with three minutes to go in the fourth period.
The Mustangs converted a turnover and a steal into four points to recapture the lead at 48-45, but Williamson swished a clutch 3-pointer from the right wing, knotting it 48-all with 1:41 remaining.
Bawa Muniru missed the front end of a one-and-one 30 seconds later, and Crossville’s Michael West rebounded.
The Mustangs’ Johnson made a steal and drove to the basket, where he drew a foul from Hedgepeth with 24.7 seconds to play. He hit the first free throw, giving Madison Academy a 49-48 lead.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our team,” Hedgepeth said. “We laid it on the line.
“I had some shots coming out that I usually make that would have made all the difference (he was 4-of-14 from the field). Jasen played a good game, other teammates stepped up. Jarret Williamson made a huge 3.
“It didn’t work out, but I think we proved we’re as good as anybody.”
Jonus paced the Lions with 17 points, hitting 11 of 12 free throws. Hedgepeth finished with 12 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. Grant Wood scored seven, both Williamson and West five and Gaylor two.
Johnson had 17 points, six assists and three steals for the Mustangs. Muniru, the 7-foot native of Ghana, had 14 points, six rebounds and three blocks.
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