Kephart, Williams Send Johnston to Substate Final
'March Madness' of high school is already here! 😳
WATCH: https://t.co/8HvrYsiOEr pic.twitter.com/tG9M8APp8b
— MaxPreps (@MaxPreps) February 25, 2017
In a most unlikely sequence of events last night, Johnston turned a late 43-40 deficit into a 45-43 buzzer-beating triumph in a matter of just five seconds.
Senior guard Jaden Kephart was central to all the zaniness; he hit the game-tying double-clutch bank-shot 3 to tie the game. And then came away with the steal on the ensuing Ames inbound which ultimately led to a Peyton Williams buzzer-beating lay-in.
With nine seconds left and Ames up 43-40, the Little Cyclones had just committed their sixth foul of the second half. That’s when Johnson coach Bobby Sandquist called timeout and drew up a play.
“It was Camden coming off of a double screen up top, as kind of a decoy, and Peyton Williams would screen me to come up and get the ball and shoot it,” said Kephart.
The 6-foot-2 Johnson senior received the ball, and found an opening. But what he thought would happen, didn’t. And he was caught in a bind — while in midair.
“I went up thinking that Eric (Steyer) would foul me, because he was coming to me, and I thought I’d get three free-throws. And then when I realized he wasn’t fouling me I was like ‘oh crap, I’m going to have to shoot it’, so that’s when the double-clutch came in — and then I shot it,” said Kephart.
“I’ve never shot a double-clutch-bank-3 from that far away. Obviously it’s not something I practice, but it just went in.”
Oh. My.
Ames was trying to foul for a 1-1, but @JCSD_BoysBball senior Jaden Kephart banks in a 3 to tie with 3.6 left. #iahsbkb pic.twitter.com/fD6rrphob7
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) February 25, 2017
That was the first unlikely event.
Immediately following the 30-foot double-clutch back-3, Kephart was able to come away with a steal on the Ames inbound pass. Thinking there was less time on the clock than there was, he heaved up a half-court try and bricked.
It’s a good thing Kephart hoisted it so early. That gave Williams enough time to gather the ball, and put it in for a game-winning buzzer-beater.
“I thought there was less time left, which is why I threw it up so quick,” said Kephart. “And Peyton just came in with a hustle play and made a good layup.”
What a miracle. @JCSD_BoysBball comes back to score 5 points in 3.6 seconds to stun @AHSHoops, 45-43.
Wow. #iahsbkb pic.twitter.com/oI2YxggyPe
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) February 25, 2017
Then the celebration, which honestly is almost as fun to watch as the actual shots.
“It was honestly like it (celebration) all went by in three seconds, it didn’t even seem like it was anything,” said Kephart. “I don’t know, the emotion, adrenaline, it still hasn’t really sunk-in yet; it’s surreal.”
There’s a kid in a red shirt, Johnston point guard Jeran Proctor’s little brother, who was more excited than anyone about the unlikely sequence of events that propelled the Dragons to a substate final.
And he’s hilarious.
The kid in the red just jumps in the picture out of nowhere, spazzes for a few seconds then bolts. He's coooomedy #iahsbkb https://t.co/QXi5CxwP4s
— TJ Rushing (@TjRushing) February 25, 2017
“He’s a really energetic kid,” said Kephart. “My brother and his brother always come to every game and they always hang out. And he’s always been energetic like that, so it’s no surprise that he’s the one flying around the court, jumping up and down.”
The Dragons will now play Newton in a substate final after the Cardinals upset Dowling last night. Both teams will come in with some momentum from their unlikely wins.
“I think it gives us a lot of momentum, and it gives us a lot of confidence too,” Kephart said. “We’ve got to work on getting better, and the job’s not done. We just need to keep moving forward.”