The Notre Dame State Tournament Experience
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COOKEVILLE, TN – Notre Dame needed late free throws to ensure advancement to the State Championship Game, 68-62. They found the final two from their second half star. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish starter Jace Herman scored 19 points in the second half alone!
Final Minutes
Webb, thanks to Arnett Hayes Arnett Hayes 6'2" | PG Battle Ground Academy | 2025 State TN and friends, put together a 7-0 run with less than two minutes left. Elijah Brown also hit a big three-pointer with two minutes left. Alas, it was much too late. Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish already yanked the lead out to 12 points prior to the beautifully lofted outside shot. Webb School simply suffered their scoring drought at the wrong time…the fourth quarter. Notre Dame’s drought occurred early in the third quarter, and Webb certainly capitalized. Unfortunately for them, they sputtered late and coughed up the lead they conquered just a dozen game minutes prior.
Arnett Hayes Arnett Hayes 6'2" | PG Battle Ground Academy | 2025 State TN played expertly in those late moments. He needed to do the same earlier though. Hayes was playing less than 100% after hyperextending his foot against Clarksville Academy as February ended. Teammate Taveon Comage Taveon Comage 6'2" | PG Webb-Bell Buckle | 2024 State TN did some nice things, but overall Webb lacks elite scoring punch. They are their best when Arnett collapses the defense and scores with fancy layups, or dishes to springy Stephen Olowoniyi Stephen Olowoniyi 6'7" | PF Webb Bell Buckle | 2023 State TN .
Notre Dame was leading at the half against an extremely athletic and physically gifted Webb School Feet team, 25-19. Webb rattled off a crazy 16-7 run to comeback. D.J. Brown scored an and-1 to pickup his seventh point of the afternoon.
Cole McCormick Cole McCormick 6'5" | SF Notre Dame | 2024 State TN (Notre Dame) took over midway through the fourth quarter. First, he dashed into the lane and dunked it with authority. He followed shortly with a great basketball shot. McCormick was special, as expected. He created the opening chapter in his surely stellar high school career.
In a game like this, Comage might be even more productive by backing down his defender. A strong guard/forward, he owned a strength advantage with his matchup.