Alcoa junior guard Jahvin Carter (2) scores the championship-winning basket against the Douglass Red Devils during the TSSAA Class 2A state finale in Monte Hale Arena at the Murphy Center on Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Alcoa boys won 59-58. (Photo by Danny Parker)
BY JESSE SMITHEY
With Douglass holding a 58-57 lead over Alcoa in the final minute of 2023 Class 2A boys’ basketball state championship, the Tornadoes had to foul five times in a 7-second span to force Douglass into the bonus and put Douglass on the foul line for a pressure-packed, 1-and-1 situation.
Finally, with 12 seconds remaining, Alcoa reached its seventh team foul of the second half and sent Douglass’ guard Marjavis Chandler to the free-throw line.
After a timeout, Chandler missed the front-end of that 1-and-1. Alcoa rebounded and got the ball to star player Jahvin Carter, who raced the full length of the court and made the game-winning shot with a few seconds to go.
Had the new NFHS rule change that happened this week occurred a year sooner, that Alcoa play by Carter might not have carried as much historical significance.
Perhaps his heavily contested layup would have only tied the game and sent it to overtime. Perhaps Chandler wouldn’t have felt the weight of the moment, canned two foul shots and forced Alcoa to shoot a 3 on the other end to tie.
Here’s more on the new NFHS foul-shot rule and what some area coaches are saying about it.
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