Last-second free throws lift Wilson Prep to repeat title in 1A boys basketball
Never count out a champion.
Wilson Prep’s Leslie Minter connected on a pair of free throws with 0.6 seconds left to lift his team to a second straight 1A title with a 65-63 win over Corvian Community. It was the third state title in the last four years for the Tigers.
- Box Score: Wilson Prep 65, Corvian Community 63
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Minter was fouled on a desperation three-point attempt from almost half court and iced all three fouls shots, putting the Tigers ahead two.
"I knew to either make the shot or try to draw the foul," Minter said. "I know the ref saw him foul me though, so I lined up for those free throws, finished the game off."
Minter, who hit two big 3s in the fourth, hit all three and Corvian didn’t get an attempt off as the horn sounded. Minter scored nine of his 14 points in the fourth quarter.
Corvian Community had what would have been the schools first state title in their sights. Cardinals’ forward Adrian Scott hit one free throw with 4.1 seconds on the clock, putting his team up one.
Wilson Prep took two timeouts to set up their inbounds play. The Tigers threw the ball to halfcourt and pushed it ahead to Minter who pulled up for a long three and was fouled.
"When the ball was in his hand, my whole mind is at ease because he's the most clutch player I've ever coached," Wilson Prep coach Anthony Atkinson said.
Minter finished the game 6-for-7 from the foul line. It was the foul line that got Wilson Prep back into the contest, shooting 78 percent from the line for the game, including 3-for-3 from the line in the fourth.
Wilson Prep’s Ben Ferguson was the game’s Most Outstanding Player, finishing with a game-high 34 points. Jack Hudson, of Corvian Community, was named the Most Outstanding Player for the west. Hudson finished with 10 points. Brandon Anderson (9) was named the Most Outstanding Player for the east."I've been in the gym all week working on my mid-range because I knew they had some big defenders," Ferguson said. "When I'm able to get to my spots and I'm feeling confident, then I feel like nobody can stop me."
The fourth quarter of the first title game was a classic.
With 1:22 remaining and Wilson Prep ahead by two, the Tigers tried to play keep away, but turned the ball back over with 1:12 left. RJ Moore, Jr. drove to the lane and drew a foul. Moore hit both freebies to tie the game at 62. Wilson Prep held for one final shot, but Ferguson missed a layup with 30 seconds left and the Cardinals had a chance. Jack Hudson missed from the elbow, but the Cardinals retained possession with 4.1 seconds left.
Tied at 50 headed into the final frame, the two teams started 0-for-4 from the floor. AJ Jackson, Jr. started the scoring with a single free throw. On the other end Ferguson drove for a layup to put WIlson Prep ahead by one.
"What a game. That's how it's supposed to be. Both teams left it all out there on the floor," Atkinson said. "Our guys fought and fought and fought."
Minter hit his first three pointer from the top of the key to give Wilson Prep a two-point lead and some momentum. That wouldn’t last too long as Corvian Community got one free throw from Jack Hudson to make it a one-point Tigers’ lead. Moore stole the basketball on the inbounds attempt and laid it in, making it 56-55 in favor of the Cardinals. After a bucket on the other end from Wilson Prep guard Elijah Newsome, Jackson hit a huge three from the wing, putting the Cardinals ahead by two. Moments later, though, Jackson would foul out of the game.
Ferguson would tie the game at 59 with a layup out of the timeout.
Minter, who started the game 0-for-5 from three, hit his second from deep, giving the Tigers a 62-60 lead with 2:02 remaining in the game.
The game was tied four times in the third quarter and the two teams headed into the final frame tied at 50.
In the third quarter Wilson Prep decided to aggressively attack the paint, making their way to the foul line. The Tigers shot 5-for-6 from the free throw line in the second half.
Corvian Community led by five (33-28) thanks to a balanced scoring effort. Five of the seven players who saw action scored, making the Cardinals tough to defend.
On the other end, Corvian Community had their hands full with Ferguson, who scored 19 of the Tigers’ 28 first-half points.
Ferguson pumped in 14 points in the second quarter and pulled Wilson Prep within three (29-26) after a pair of free throws. Jack Hudson, who had a big second quarter with six points, pushed the lead back to five with a layup. Corvian nailed a three right before the horn for a 34-28 halftime lead.
"I thought it was an amazing basketball game... I hate the way it ended," said Corvian coach Ron Murphy. "I'm really proud of our guys for battling every possession, every play."
Wilson Prep struggled out the gate, shooting 25 percent (4-17) from the floor in the first quarter. The Tigers missed their first nine shots from the field, but the Cardinals weren’t doing much better, hitting just two of their first six shots.
Corvian Community put just enough to take a five-point lead after one quarter of action. The Cardinals settled in during the second quarter. R.J. Moore Jr. started the second with a three and Jackson Jr. followed with a pair from the line to make it 20-14. Corvian missed their next four shots before a Hudson jumper gave the Cardinals a 22-16 advantage. At that point Ferguson took over, scoring the next six for Wilson Prep.
"I don't think we even won seven games my freshman year, and ever since then we've been rolling," Hudson said. "We're one of the best teams in North Carolina if not the nation, in my opinion and I'll always stand by that."
Box Score: Wilson Prep 65, Corvian Community 63
Wilson Prep: Ben Ferguson 34, Leslie Minter 14 (10 rebounds), Brandon Anderson 9, David Ellis 4, Josh Hicks 2, Elijah Newsome 2.
Corvian Community: R.J. Moore Jr. 20, A.J. Jackson Jr. 14, Jack Hudson 10 (17 rebounds), Adrian Scott 7, DeMarkus Milton 7, Malachi McCutcheon 5.
