Kevin Dorsey probably didn't expect to sign so many autographs when he came to Springfield earlier this week. But that’s what happens when you hit back-to-back game-winning shots at the Tournament of Champions.
PHOTOS
A night after sending Paul VI to the finals with a buzzer-beater, Dorsey became one of the youngest TOC legends when he banked-in the game winning shot to help his team beat national power and veteran-laden Montverde Academy 69-67 in overtime at JQH Arena. (See video below)
Only a sophomore, Dorsey says he’s never had an experience quite like the past two days.
“It’s been unbelievable,” said Dorsey, after signing autographs for fans and taking a congratulatory phone call from his mother. “Winning this title is great for our team, our seniors and our program.”
Dorsey drove just left of the free throw line, stopped, then did a near 360 pivot spin before rising up and hitting the game-winner with two seconds left on the clock.
Dorsey admitted he didn’t call glass.
“Everyone wants to say we’re a young team and we can’t win it this year and stuff like that,” Dorsey said. “But we were just worried about right now and what we could do tonight.”
Dorsey finished with 10 points. Fellow sophomores Marcus Derrickson (23 points, 8 turnovers) and Franklin Howard (24 points) helped Paul VI overcome a 10-point deficit with less than six minutes remaining.
Derrickson landed with Dorsey on the all-tournament team and was named MVP for the three-day event.
“We just believed in our abilities,” Derrickson said. “We were down, so we focused on getting stops and rebounds.”
With Montverde leading by two, Derrickson went to the line with 28.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter and drained two free throws in a one-and-one situation. Hill’s jumper in the final seconds was well off the mark, sending the game into overtime.
Hill would find the bottom of the net on a 3-pointer with 1:30 to go in overtime, tying the game 67-67. Paul VI would call timeout with 1:17 left, then run the clock all the way down before Dorsey’s last-second shot.
Montverde entered the game undefeated at 18-0 and ranked in the Top 3 by most national polling sites. The Eagles also featured seniors and college-bound players in Hill (Florida), Dakari Johnson (Kentucky) and Devin Williams (West Virginia).
Paul VI (13-4) was without powerful 6-foot-8 center Quadree Smith, who suffered a shoulder injury Friday night.
Among Paul VI’s sophomore trio, Dorsey and Derrickson enjoyed their trip to Springfield.
“It feels good to win it this year,” Dorsey said. “Maybe we can get another one.”
Added Derrickson: “I liked Bass Pro. I’m not much of an outdoorsman, but I liked going there.”
Montverde Academy 13 22 13 10 9 --- 67
Paul VI 18 15 10 15 11 ---69
Montverde – Devin Williams 20, Kasey Hill 18, Dakari Johnson 12, Miguel Cartegena 8, D’Angelo Russell 7, Justin Bibbs 2
Paul VI – Franklin Howard 24, Marcus Derrickson 23, Kevin Dorsey 10, Tyler Scanlon 5, Evan Taylor 4, Jamal Robinson 3
Sportsmanship Award: Prestonwood Christian (Texas)
All-Tournament Team
Kevin Dorsey (Paul VI)
Tyler Dorsey (St. John Bosco)
Dakari Johnson (Montverde)
Kasey Hill (Montverde)
Austin Petry (Hillcrest)
Bobby Portis (Hall)
Isaac Hamilton (St. John Bosco)
Derek Willis (Bullitt East)
Austin Ruder (Nixa)
Marcus Derrickson (MVP, Paul VI)
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