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It was a scenario basketball players dream of.
With the game tied, Hickman guard Spencer Washington had the ball and a chance to beat Holt in overtime for the Class 5, District 9 title.
He drove to the hoop with an opportunity to bring Hickman its first district championship since 2003.
But Holt forward Dantiel Daniels took away the Kewpies' title with a block, and instead of the time expiring and the game heading into a second overtime, a few seconds remained, a mistake that Hickman couldn't afford.
The Indians rebounded the basketball and still had enough time to push the ball up the court when Kewpie guard Lyle Harris fouled Indians guard Lamar Thrash with only 2.3 seconds remaining. Thrash made both foul shots, giving Holt a 64-62 lead.
Hickman used its last timeout, but when the Kewpies came out of their timeout, Harris' magic from the semifinals wasn't there. While advancing up the court to find a comfortable shot, Harris stepped out of bounds, and time ran out on Hickman's season.
Hickman trailed 25-19 at halftime, and Harris scored no points in the first half. However, the Hickman senior was phenomenal in the second half, scoring 30 points to help the Kewpies (17-9) rally and establish a three-point lead of their own with 22 seconds left in regulation. But a Holt 3-pointer by guard Sam Stix tied the game, giving them a second chance.
Daniels led the Indians (21-7) with 15 points, who extended their winning streak to 12 games.
Holt won its first district title since 1991, and will now face the winner of the Class 5, District 10 finals between Jefferson City and Waynesville.
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Comments
The game between Holt and Hickman was very exciting, I think Holt was very underestimated. No one thought they would make it that far. Both teams played well although that Daniels kid was ready for war. Both teams should be congratulated for their efforts.