By Jordan Burton
Judging by the looks on their faces, you couldn’t tell that Lamar had just punched its ticket to the Class 3 playoffs.
It wasn’t a lack of excitement, it was pure mental and physical exhaustion.
The Tigers exchanged haymakers with Mount Vernon for four quarters and then some, surviving an upset bid for a 63-57 double overtime win in Saturday’s Class 3 – District 12 championship hosted by Seneca.
“That game was so wild,” said Lamar coach Tyler Ryerson. “At the end of the first overtime I looked at them and said ‘this is fun” and by the end of the second overtime I think we were all dying and just trying to survive. Hats off to Mount Vernon, they did an awesome job. We had just enough depth to keep good athletes on the floor and get enough stops.”
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Survival is the only way to describe it…
Lamar built a 15-point first quarter lead, scoring 21 of the game’s first 27 points. That advantage quickly disappeared after the Tigers went the duration of the second quarter without a field goal.
Mount Vernon led by five with less than two minutes remaining in regulation when junior guard Ian Moore brought the Tigers within a score on a conventional three-point play.
Senior Luke Hardman tied the game on the ensuing possession, slicing through the heart of Mount Vernon’s defense for two of his 17 points.
The Mountaineers would hold for the last shot, but came up empty.
Mount Vernon then built a 3-point cushion with less than a minute remaining in the first overtime. That was erased when Moore hit the biggest shot of his life, a contested corner triple right in front of Lamar’s student section to knot the game at 48.
“I knew I was going to take the shot, I wanted to take the shot,” said Moore. “I caught it and didn’t have enough space so I jabbed at him and pulled it. Glory to God that it went in.”
He would miss a potential game-winning shot to end the period, but his heroics were a shot of energy for Lamar.
He fouled out in the second overtime but his Tigers outscored MV 15-9 in the session, which included a filthy two-handed baseline flush by 6-foot-5 senior Sam Timmons.
“He turned it over the possession before and made up for it with a big-time shot,” said Ryerson. “He didn’t shoot it well throughout the night so that was really a clutch shot. We’ve had several different starting lineups throughout the year and Ian has come off the bench for us for a little while and has done a tremendous job for us. He’s stayed aggressive offensively. He’s been good for us.”
So, the team that lost a district championship last year on a buzzer-beater is now headed to the Sectional round for the first time since 2014.
While the sting of that 39-37 loss to East Newton last year still exists, Timmons and the Tigers are excited to be moving.
“Last year hurt,” said senior Sam Timmons. “We battled and battled and to come up short and lose like that was tough. We came out slow so we really wanted to come out quick tonight. This is incredible. They’ve had so much success in football that it’s time for our program to step up and make our own name at Lamar.”
Mount Vernon senior Jarrett Massie finished with a game-high 24 points, often carrying a stagnant offense that struggled to find points with Kyle Bushman saddled with foul trouble.
Senior Brett Campbell added 15 for the ‘Neers.
Hardman’s 17 points were a team-high, Timmons and Moore each added 15. Senior bruiser Trey Mooney scored 11.
Lamar has now won nine of its last 10 entering Wednesday’s showdown with Fair Grove.
While the teams haven’t met recently, Ryerson – a Willard native – grew up playing against Fair Grove coach Tim Brown who prepped at Rogersville.
“We’re looking forward to have another opportunity to practice, that’s something most teams don’t get to do at this time of the year,” said Ryerson. “Timmy is a good friend of mine, I’ve known him forever so I’m looking forward to it.”
Lamar 63, Mount Vernon 57 (2OT)
Mount Vernon 6-12-18-6-6-9 – 57
Lamar 21-2-10-9-6-15 – 63
Mount Vernon (16-12): Massie 23, Campbell 15, Vaugh 9, Boswell 6, Bushman 4.
Lamar (22-4): Hardman 17, Timmons 15, Moore 15, Mooney 11, Lucas 3, Wilkerson 2.
