With three seconds remaining in the Class 1A state championship, the fate of the South Gray basketball team hinged on a sophomore's free-throw abilities.
South Gray had three seniors in its lineup, but when the Rebels trailed by two in the final seconds of the Class 1A state championship game, it was Hannah Thomas who stood on the free-throw line.
“Hannah Thomas is a clutch player,” South Gray coach Andy Gillen said. “I knew she would make the free throws. I would not want anybody else on the line.”
Thomas made both and sent the game into overtime, where South Gray defeated Argonia 57-51.
“For some reason I knew they were going in,” Thomas said. “I just knew they were going in … I just wanted to win so bad.”
After losing in the state championship last season, the South Gray girls basketball team has not lost another game. And on Friday, the team took home its second state championship in three years.
Over a two-year span, South Gray is 55-1.
With South Gray trailing by three in overtime, Mikayla Skidmore sank a layup while being fouled. She made the free throws to tie the game at 51.
Kayla Thomas gave the Rebels the lead from the line, and Brigit Hesser iced it with two free throws to give South Gray a 55-51 lead late in the game.
And if that were not enough, Skidmore stole the ball and went coast to coast in the game's final seconds.
“I was like, ‘I got to seal the deal right here,' ” Skidmore said.
Skidmore left the contest with a game-high 18 points.
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With three seconds remaining in the Class 1A state championship, the fate of the South Gray basketball team hinged on a sophomore's free-throw abilities.
South Gray had three seniors in its lineup, but when the Rebels trailed by two in the final seconds of the Class 1A state championship game, it was Hannah Thomas who stood on the free-throw line.
“Hannah Thomas is a clutch player,” South Gray coach Andy Gillen said. “I knew she would make the free throws. I would not want anybody else on the line.”
Thomas made both and sent the game into overtime, where South Gray defeated Argonia 57-51.
“For some reason I knew they were going in,” Thomas said. “I just knew they were going in … I just wanted to win so bad.”
After losing in the state championship last season, the South Gray girls basketball team has not lost another game. And on Friday, the team took home its second state championship in three years.
Over a two-year span, South Gray is 55-1.
With South Gray trailing by three in overtime, Mikayla Skidmore sank a layup while being fouled. She made the free throws to tie the game at 51.
Kayla Thomas gave the Rebels the lead from the line, and Brigit Hesser iced it with two free throws to give South Gray a 55-51 lead late in the game.
And if that were not enough, Skidmore stole the ball and went coast to coast in the game's final seconds.
“I was like, ‘I got to seal the deal right here,' ” Skidmore said.
Skidmore left the contest with a game-high 18 points.
