Last second blunders by Austin Westlake help McKinney win semifinal in double overtime
Austin Westlake had the game in its grasp, but a uniform mishap gave McKinney new life.
With 1.9 seconds left in regulation, McKinney trailed 54-53 and had possession after a timeout, but Westlake coach Robert Lucero subbed in No. 50, 6-9 center Colton Smith to guard the inbound pass.
Only problem was he was wearing a No. 55 jersey.
The scorers table buzzed over an official and after a few minutes of discussion, the officiating crew ruled that Smith was incorrectly penciled into the scorers book.
Lucero stated after the game that Smith was in the book, but under the wrong uniform number. Smith’s jersey had gotten dirty prior and a new jersey was given. Lucero also said that the jersey numbers reflect the numbers in the program and he didn’t expect Smith to play in the game.
Westlake was hit with a technical foul and McKinney junior Ja’Kobe Walter hit the the first of two free throws.
That tied the game at 54.
However, Walter missed the second and the game would last two overtimes.
“Uniform is wrong to give them an opportunity, but even with all of that, the players handled it well and got back out there and took it to a couple overtimes,” Lucero said.
SMU bound senior Alex Anamekwe, the hero against Richardson, stole a Westlake pass near halfcourt and had an easy breakaway dunk just before the buzzer in double overtime, and the Lions beat the Chaparrals 68-66 in a Class 6A state semifinal on Friday night at the Alamodome.
“Like we drew it up,” chuckled McKinney coach Wes Watson.”
“Wow,” Walter added. “Very shocked. Saw him running for it at first and then he tipped it and I ran with him. Knew he was going to dunk it. I had a front row seat to it.
“When he did it, I just screamed and started running because I knew the game was over.”
Anamekwe, who finished with seven points, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals, hit the last-second layup to beat No. 1 Richardson in the regional quarterfinals.
McKinney, which is making its first state appearance since 1928, advances to its first state championship game in program history. The Lions (36-5) will play Duncanville at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Walter shot poorly at 8 of 24, but did manage a game-high 23 points. He also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out three assists. Jacovey Campbell played well in the first half for McKinney and finished with 16 points on 7 of 13 shooting, four rebounds and four assists.
“I knew I had to at least make one,” Walter said about his late game free throws. “I was confident on the second and it felt good on the release, just rimmed out. We had a another shot in overtime.
“We were meant to be here.”
Both teams came out shooting in the first quarter with the Lions knocking down four three-pointers. McKinney got out to a 17-9 lead on a Jackson Steele layup and led 17-15 after the opening period.
The Lions continued to lead and grew the margin to 29-20 on a Thatcher McClure jumper with 3:04 left in the second quarter. Westlake cut it to 29-27 just under a minute left and McKinney led 31-27 at intermission.
Westlake turned the table on McKinney in the third quarter with eight points in the first 90 seconds. Reece Vanek hit a three to give a Chaparrals a 40-36 lead with 4:32 to play in the frame. Star football player Jaden Greathouse hit four free throws to give Westlake a 45-38 cushion nearly two minutes later.
McKinney pulled within 47-44 on a Walter three just before the end of the quarter.
Greathouse led the Chaps with 19 points on 7 of 14 shooting and eight rebounds before picking up his fifth foul and fouling out late in the fourth quarter.
McClure tied it at 52 with a three midway through the fourth and Anamekwe gave the Lions a 53-52 lead with a free throw shortly after. The Chaps led 54-53 with 19 seconds left after a Donovan Santoro drive to the basket.
This story was originally published March 11, 2022 at 9:34 PM.
