NEW MADRID AND PARK HILLS SOUTH REACH 3A BOYS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

COLUMBIA -- In a game that was see-saw all of the way, the ending proved to be no different as the New Madrid County Central Eagles won their state semifinal game against Reeds Spring Friday afternoon in bizarre fashion. After a two-minute delay, an official waived off a controversial foul after the final buzzer sounded giving the Eagles a 64-63 victory and a ticket to the state championship game.

Trailing by one with 5.1 seconds left, Reeds Spring looked to win the game as star guard Mark Schweitzer pushed the ball up the floor, dishing it off to Greg Bittle who put up a desperation 3-pointer. NMCC's Ronland Ranson blocked the shot committing a foul in the process, but the referee didn't blow the whistle until after the buzzer sounded.

After a brief discussion between referees, both head coaches were brought to the scorer's table, as an intense crowd anxiously awaited the final decision.

They ruled the foul came after time expired, giving NMCC the victory.

"The officials decided that if there was contact made, it was after the horn sounded," said NMCC coach Lennies McFerren. "If anybody has a replay of it, I sure don't want to see it. You just have to thank God on something like that. You have to be very lucky and blessed to do what we did today. Reeds Spring has a very fine basketball club, and they didn't give up. We were just very fortunate to come out with a victory." Reeds Spring's players were devastated by the final call that ended their run at a state title.

"He blew the whistle, called the foul, then changed his mind," said Schweitzer, who led all scorers with 20 points. "He said the foul was on the shot, and told us we had three free throws. He told us to line up for them, then he walked over to the scorer's table, and God must have given him some kind of revelation or something. Then he came back and said he got fouled after the shot, so we thought he would have bonus free throws. Then they told us it was after the buzzer. If Greg (Bittle) would've gotten those shots, I would've ran into the locker room and celebrated. He's an 83 percent foul shooter, they would've went in." The Eagles played Park Hill South for the state title at the Hearnes Center on Saturday, results will be in Monday's edition.

"It's hard to believe right now," said McFerren.

"These young men believed they could get it done, and if they wouldn't have, they wouldn't be standing here right now with the victory."

The game was an emotional roller coaster for NMCC in all four quarters as they tried to match up with their oversized final four adversaries. Reeds Spring dominated the opening minutes of the game, jumping out to a 6-0 lead, forcing NMCC into a timeout.

"I was scared," said McFerren. "That's why I called timeout. I thought we were going to be the team jumping out to a quick start, but it was reversed." The Eagles broke from the huddle and put the ball in the hands of their floor leader postman Ricky Smith.

The 6-foot-2 senior sparked the flame for NMCC, answering the Wolves with an 8-0 run.

NMCC led 15-13 at the end of the first, only to see Reeds Spring regain control with post players Terry Zumalt (6-4, 230) and Dan Durrer (6-7, 225). NMCC shooting guard Byron Minner then shifted the momentum back towards the Eagles, draining three 3-pointers as NMCC took a 34-31 lead into the locker room at halftime.

In the second half, Reeds Spring threw a box-and-one on Smith, shutting down the Eagles' offense. The Wolves opened the third quarter on a 12-2 run to take a seven-point lead. NMCC then ended the period taking advantage of two turnovers for easy baskets and some bigtime shots from Terrence Smith and Ranson, shaving the lead down to 45-44.

Reeds Spring led most of the final period, with the Eagles right on their heels every step of the way.

With 38.3 seconds left, and NMCC trailing by one, Ricky Smith took the ball away from Ryan Brown on an impressive double-dive steal, dishing it off to Dereke Tipler for a layup that cut the Wolves' lead to 63-62.

Minner immediately fouled Brown on the ensuing possession, sending him to the foul line. After missing a shot, Smith pulled down the rebound and went end to end. His shot was off the mark, but Tipler managed to score on a putback with 5.1 seconds left to give the Eagles a 64-63 lead.

Reeds Spring's final drive resulted in the nullified foul.

"I can't change what the referee called," said Reeds Spring coach Doug Arnold. "He said the ball was in the air when he was fouled, meaning it was going to be a one-and-one. Then he got talked out of it. We shouldn't have let the game get down to the point where it's in the hands of the referee. That was the best defense we have seen," said Arnold. "They're very athletic and very well coached. We had several turnovers where we would get a rebound and lose it on an outlet pass under their goal, giving them an easy basket." Reeds Spring's record drops to 26-5 while NMCC improved to 22-6.

"We didn't make any of the 'Sophomores to Watch', 'Juniors to Watch', or 'Seniors to Watch' lists this year," said McFerren. "We don't have anybody to watch, we have a team to watch." Smith led the Eagles with 18 points. Tipler finished with 17, pulling down eight rebounds with seven assists and two steals. Ranson contributed eight points with 12 rebounds.

In the other seminfinal, Park Hill South (18-11) beat Jennings 56-46.

Park Hill led by as many as 16, and then slowed down its offense to prevent a Jennings (26-5) comeback.

Dave Sexton led the Panthers with 19 points, and Darren Brooks paced Jennings with 15 points and 12 rebounds.