Bullitt East Survives Overtime Scare From Hillcrest In Tournament Of Champions

By Don Louzader

CREATED Jan. 19, 2013

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  • Hillcrest Hornet Thomas Whitaker (20) fights past a Bullitt East defender in the final day of the 2013 Bass Pro Tournament of Champions at JQH Arena Image by Chase Snider / KTTS News

  • The Paul VI Panthers celebrate with the 2013 Bass Pro Tournament of Champions banner after their 69-67 victory over Montverde at JQH Arena

  • Nixa Eagle Bryce Dulin (12) reaches for the ball just before being fowled by St. John Bosco in the 3rd place game of the 2013 Bass Pro Tournament of Champions at JQH Arena

  • Hillcrest Hornet Thomas Whitaker (20) fights past a Bullitt East defender in the final day of the 2013 Bass Pro Tournament of Champions at JQH Arena

Bullitt East from Mount Washington,Kentucky has won the consolation trophy at the 29th Annual Bass Pro Tournamet of Champions at JQH Arena, beating Springfield Hillcrest 59-55 in overtime.

Derek Willis had 27 points to lead the Chargers, while Juwan Johnson and Roy Hardy finished with 13 each for Hillcrest.

The Hornets and Chargers were tied at 13-13 after the opening quarter, with the Hornets going ahead 29-22 at the half and increasing the lead to ten points after three.

Bullitt East kept it close in the fourth period, pulling within two points. 45-43, with 3:22 left in regulation, then taking a one point lead, 46-45, on Trey Rakes' three pointer.

Hillcrest's Roy Hardy nailed two free throws with 1:40 left to put the Hornets back on top, 47-46. After a defensive stop, Hillcrest ran the clock down to 47 seconds before Thomas Whitaker was fouled. He sank both shots from the charity stripe to increase the lead to 49-46.

Jonah Hill added a free throw with 25 seconds on the clock to put Hillcrest ahead by four, and the Chargers hopes seemed to be fading when Rusty Troutman missed two free throws with 13.9 seconds to go. 

But the Chargers got the ball back and Rakes hit a jumper with 5.1 seconds left to pull his team within two, 50-48.

Hillcrest wasn't able to get the ball inbounds and turned it over on a five second count. David McIntosh committed a foul before any more time ran off the clock, and Willis hit two free throws for Bullitt East to tie the game 50-50 and send it into overtime.

The lead changed hands three times in the overtime period as the two teams traded buckets. Rakes hit the biggest shot, nailing a jumper with 18 seconds left to put the Chargers ahead 55-54. Whitaker then had a shot blocked by the 6-9 Willis with seven seconds on the clock.

Willis hit two free throws for Bullitt East with five seconds to make it 57-54 and Rakes sealed it with two more from the charity stripe with one second remaining.