SUWANEE, Ga. — Kyle Carpenter's steal and eventual free throw with 15 seconds left was just enough to help Buford survive a frantic 56-55 win over Collins Hills on Wednesday in the Region 8-6A championship game.
Frantic, and heartbreaking, was exactly how to describe the final 6.2 seconds as the Eagles’ Austin Richards drove the lane uncontested only to see his layup attempt slide off the rim at the buzzer to deny Collins Hill what would have been a huge upset victory. Richards was sprawled on the floor in disbelief moments after the buzzer sounded.
“A game like this, right here, at this time of the season, is perfect,” Buford coach Wes Parker said. “We're gonna have to grind out wins. We're gonna have to get stops in the half court and get rebounds in the half court. To make a run in the state tournament, you are going to have to win when you play bad.”
The Wolves, who had beaten the Eagles decisively in their two regular season meetings (90-66 at home, 71-55 at Collins Hill), did not play bad by most measures. Collins Hill just continued a stretch that saw the Eagles win five straight down the stretch.
Collins Hill opened the game with a quick 7-2 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Ruben Borg. Buford eventually found its range as Dillon Nixon connected on a 3-pointer and then Ben Wilcox capped an 8-0 Wolves run with a trey for a 10-7 lead.
In the second, a Edward Hunter 3-pointer ignited a 10-2 Buford run for a 23-17 lead before the Eagles’ Elijah Skerritt scored in the waning seconds to bring them within 26-25 by halftime.
After Collins Hill took a quick 27-26 lead to open the second half, the Wolves went on a 10-2 run and looked in control at 37-29. Five different players scored during the spurt.
Buford would take a 40-33 lead late in the third quarter before the Eagles began to chip away. A 3-pointer by Richards got them within 46-45 and then a basket by Bryce Sampah pulled them within 50-49. Collins Hill finally caught the Wolves at 52 and again at 54 with 90 seconds left.
The Eagles took a 55-54 lead on a free throw from Skerritt with 48 seconds left.
But each time the Eagles tied the game, a different player stepped up for Buford. Carmelo Williams hit a basket then Torre Costin hit two free throws. Carpenter’s steal was the eventual game-winner.
Parker said “mental toughness” was the key.
“When you said someone made a play, that's the luxury of this team, is that there's several guys that can make a play,” Parker said. “But I don't think we won this on offense or defense. I thought it was our mental toughness that was the difference.”
Nixon paced Buford with 17 points, 11 coming in the second half. Williams had 16, Carpenter 9, and Hunter 8 for the Wolves.
Richards finished with 15 points to lead Collins Hill. Borg added 14 for the Eagles.
The victory gave Buford (23-3) the No. 1 seed from 8-6A in next week’s Class 6A tournament. The loss for the Eagles (16-11) gave them the No. 2 seed and both will be at home in the first round.
The Central Gwinnett boys rallied from a double-digit deficit in the second half to knock off Mill Creek 72-70 in overtime t take the No. 3 seed from 8-6A.
