Whether it’s a football, a baton or – in this case – a basketball, good things often happen when Luke Hardman has a sports-related item in his hands.
The Lamar senior delivered a game-winning basket – amid some improvising and contact – as time expired against Mt. Vernon on Friday night, giving the Tigers a thrilling 59-57 Big 8 road victory.
“When you can get the ball in Luke Hardman’s hands going downhill, it’s always the shot you want,” said Tigers coach Tyler Ryerson.
Tied at 57 with about five seconds remaining, Lamar’s Ian Moore made a pass from beyond the half-court line to Hardman on the left wing. Hardman drove past his defender, stopped short of the paint area and banked in the game-winner (while avoiding a potential charging foul) to push Lamar to 17-3 overall and 4-0 in the Big 8, spoiling Mt. Vernon’s homecoming festivities in the process.
Hardman and Lamar’s senior class are aiming to make history, again. The Tigers haven’t won a Big 8 championship in boys’ basketball since 1996.
Much of Lamar’s varsity basketball team was also on the Lamar football team that won a sixth straight state championship last fall.
“I’ve been playing with these seniors since 2nd grade,” said Hardman, who has signed to play football and run track at Pitt State. “We made history in football, so might as well change something around in basketball, too. It’d be pretty cool to do it this season with these seniors.”
In a timeout huddle leading up to Hardman’s game-winner, Lamar drew up a play designed for a man-to-man defense.
“(Mt. Vernon) went zone, we just king of winged it,” Hardman said. “Ian (Moore) saw me down court, made the good pass and I made the play. I saw (Mt. Vernon’s Jarrett) Massie and he was coming in pretty fast at me, I thought I’d catch him off-guard because I was hitting some 3s earlier, so I decided to drive for once and… I made it.”
Lamar led 57-55 with about 30 seconds to go and had possession, but Mt. Vernon was able to knock the ball free and force a jump-ball. The possession arrow favored the Mountaineers and sophomore Kelly Vaughn converted a layup with less than 10 seconds remaining to tie the game at 57.
Lamar called timeout and the ball ended up in Hardman’s hands. Hardman led Lamar with 15 points, all coming in the second half, after battling foul trouble in the first two quarters. Hardman said it was his first career game-winning shot.
“We drew up a set, versus a man (defense), and I’d love to take credit for that play but I can’t,” Ryerson said. “Mt. Vernon switched up to zone, we pushed it up the sideline, Luke attacked and he was able to score. He’s a tremendous athlete.
“I’ll take that situation 10 times out of 10.”
Seniors Brett Campbell (24) and Jarrett Massie (13) combined for 37 of Mt. Vernon’s 57 points.
Lamar had a chance to close the game out, leading 56-50 with 1:16 remaining. Campbell scored to bring the Mountaineers within 56-52.
A Lamar turnover led to Campbell splitting a pair of free throws. Lamar’s Sam Timmons then went 1-for-2 at the free throw line, extending the Tigers’ lead to 57-53.
Campbell’s putback with 26.4 seconds remaining cut Lamar’s lead to 57-55. Mt. Vernon forced a jump ball on Lamar’s ensuing possession.
“We’re going to watch (film) on that final minute, see what happened,” Ryerson said. “Credit to Mt. Vernon. Campbell and Massie, they get to the rim. They put their head down and attack. I think they had 40-something between the two of them. They didn’t quit.”
Mt. Vernon dropped to 13-11 overall and 4-1 in the Big 8. It was the Mountaineers’ fourth loss by three or fewer points, one of which saw MVHS unable to close out a 16-point fourth-quarter lead at Clever on Jan. 20 in an eventual 70-68 loss.
THE NEW O-ZONE APP IS HERE!
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FOR APPLE
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID
Mt. Vernon visits Seneca on Tuesday, Feb. 14 and finishes the regular season at home against McDonald County on Feb. 17.
Lamar has three conference games remaining in its quest for an outright Big 8 championship, all of which are against teams with a sub-.500 record: Feb. 13 at McDonald County, Feb. 14 vs. Monett and Feb. 17 at Aurora.
Lamar (No. 1) and Mt. Vernon (No. 2) are also the top two seeds in the Class 3, District 12 tournament, which begins Feb. 21 at Seneca High School. The district title game is Saturday night, Feb. 25.
Lamar 59, Mt. Vernon 57
Lamar 13 14 12 20 — 59
MV 15 15 7 20 — 57
Lamar – Luke Hardman 15, Trey Mooney 14, Ian Moore 9, Sam Timmons 8, Cooper Lucas 5, Matt Whyman 4, Anthony Wilkerson 2, Michael Danner 2
MV – Brett Campbell 24, Jarrett Massie 13, Kelly Vaughn 7, Ty Boswell 7, Kyle Bushman 6
Mt. Vernon JV 50, Lamar JV 44
Mt. Vernon freshmen 42, Lamar freshmen 38
