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Last-second shot knocks Campbell County out of boys basketball playoffs for third straight year


By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter

LEXINGTON — The sting of a game-winning shot ending your season is something Campbell County boys basketball players have to deal with for the third straight year.

Oldham County forward Travis Henderson made a 3-pointer from the left corner with 1.9 seconds remaining to give his team a 56-55 win over Campbell County in the quarterfinals of the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Sweet 16 boys state tournament on Friday at Rupp Arena.

Campbell County guard Drew Wilson drives to the basket against Matthew Teague of Oldham County. (Photo by Dale Dawn)shot

Last year, Campbell County lost in the 10th Region championship game on a last-second shot and the same thing happened to the Camels in the first round of the 2016 regional tournament.

“It hurts pretty bad, but we’ll get over it and move on,” said Campbell County senior guard Joel Day. “But this has been the best year of my life. Top to bottom, this has been the funnest team I’ve ever played with. We all love each other and care for each other. I’ll always hold that with me.”

The Camels had an 11-point lead late in the third quarter, but Oldham County steadily chipped away at it and tied the score, 53-53, with 42 seconds left on the clock.

After Campbell County junior forward Reid Jolly hit a running bank shot to put his team back on top, Oldham County coach Coy Zerhusen called a time with 8.8 seconds left to set up a play. The ball ended up in Henderson’s hands and he hit the game-winning shot.

“I’ve very disappointed that we lost, but not disappointed with how we played,” said Campbell County coach Aric Russell. “We played hard and had a chance to win it. A big shot got us again.”

The Camels shot 52 percent (22 of 42) percent from the field and finished with a 27-23 rebounding advantage. The team’s leading scorer was junior guard Drew Wilson with 16 points.

Jolly had 14 points, 12 rebounds, five blocks and three assists. Junior forward Tanner Lawrence came off the bench to score 10 points and grab six rebounds.

Oldham County players converge on Campbell County forward Reid Jolly under the basket. (Photo by Dale Dawn)

Day, who was named to the state all-tournament team,  picked up his second foul early in the second quarter and went to the bench with his team behind, 17-12.

But the Camels scored 14 straight points without Day in the lineup to take a 26-17 lead. During that run, Jesse Russell hit a 3-pointer and scored a breakaway basket off an assist by Jolly, who blocked a shot and recovered the loose ball to start the run-out.

Oldham County scored off two turnovers in the final minute of the second quarter to cut the Camels’ lead to 28-23 at halftime and the Colonels continued to apply defensive pressure after the break.

Campbell County committed turnovers on six of its first nine possessions in the third quarter and the Colonels pulled to within 32-30 on a basket by forward Zach Larimore with 3:21 left in the period.

The Camels settled down and pushed their lead to 43-35 going into the fourth quarter, but they couldn’t hold off  Oldham County’s late rally.

“We just kept grinding,” coach Zerhusen said. “I’m proud of these guys. It would’ve been easy to fold up shop, but they kept fighting.  They wanted it and executed there at the end.”

Russell was asked how he feels about last-second shots ending his team’s season the last three years.

“I don’t feel snake bit, not at all,” he said. “When you have good teams and you’re in the mix every year there’s more chances for that to happen.”

CAMPBELL COUNTY     12  16  15  12 — 55
OLDHAM COUNTY         15    8  12  21 — 56

CAMPBELL COUNTY (28-6): Jolly 6 2 14, Russell 2 0 5, Wilson 6 3 16, Clos 1 0 2, Day 2 0 5, Schaefer 1 0 3, Lawrence 4 2 10. Totals: 22 7 55.

OLDHAM COUNTY (31-5): Henderson 5 7 18, Larimore 10 1 23, Harper 1 0 2, Brewer 1 1 3, Gibson 3 0 6, McLarty 2 0 4. Totals: 22 9 56.

3-pointers: OC — Larimore 2, Henderson. CC — Day, Schaefer, Wilson, Russell.

 


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