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By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
It might go down as the biggest single shot in Walnut Grove history.
Trailing 50-49 with less than 30 seconds to play, senior guard Logan Thomazin attacked the rim looking for… a foul?
“Honestly, I was just trying to draw a foul,” said Thomazin. “He was a big kid, he blocked my shot a few times, and I went in trying to get a foul and ended up getting a roll.”
Thomazin’s floater landed softly on the rim and dropped, proving to be the eventual game-winner in Walnut Grove’s 51-50 Class 1 semifinal win over North Andrew Friday night at JQH Arena.
The shot was one of five lead changes in the game’s final two minutes.
North Andrew took a 50-49 lead on the previous play, a layup by 6-foot-4 senior Caleb Patterson. Prior to that, Walnut Grove senior Hunter Gilkey drilled a corner 3-pointer to erase a two-point deficit.
Gilkey, who entered Friday as a 28 percent 3-Point shooter, was 2-for-2 from deep.
“That’s a big time shot and you’ve got to be one heck of a player to want that,” said Meinders. “These three (Gilkey, Thomazin, Dawson Meinders), with the game on the line, we want the ball in their hands and we know good things will happen.”
Walnut Grove trailed for much of the first half, digging a 25-15 hole midway through the second quarter, before closing the half with a 13-0 run.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
The Tigers outscored North Andrew 26-5 over the course of eight and a half game minutes, opening its largest lead of the game in the third quarter, 41-30.
“We started making shots and we decided to guard a little bit,” said Coach Meinders. “We were pretty happy at halftime; we were up and we hadn’t shot the ball real well. It doesn’t matter if we miss, if we’re open we’re going to shoot.”
Thomazin finished with a game-high 22 points. Gilkey added 11 points and 10 rebounds.
North Andrew’s Ryan Hughes scored 16.
The loss snapped a bid at perfection for North Andrew, who entered with 28 consecutive wins.
“That’s two great teams that went at it,” said Coach Meinders. “You’re talking about a team that returned its top eight, they’re undefeated and they’re big and strong.
“We made plays down the stretch and that’s what it came down to, who was going to make the last play and that’s what our kids did.”
Walnut Grove is back in the Class 1 state championship game for the third straight year, which would likely be four straight had Dallas Hawk not suffered a broken arm in the 2015 playoffs.
And, much like the previous runs, the Tigers aren’t overly concerned about scouting their opponent.
Coach Meinders admits that he hasn’t really seen Eminence, although he is familiar with some of their personnel. But – as has been the case throughout the season – the Tigers believe if they continue to play Walnut Grove-Basketball – the results will take care of themselves.
“We do what we do,” said Coach Meinders. “Our philosophy is you know what we’re going to do, you’ve got to stop it. We’re not going to change what we do. We know they’re a great team, they’ve won 31 games in a row. We’re excited about tomorrow, but we’ve also got a lot to prepare for.”
“Everyone knows what we do, we just have to do what we do to the best of our abilities. I’ll take these kids in a one-game match against anybody. This is three straight years in the state championship game. We want to enjoy it and have fun, but this is also a business trip. These kids came back with a goal and that’s to put another ring on their finger.”
