In an epic clash between the top two teams in Class 3 --- and in reality, perhaps the two best teams in the state, regardless of class --- sophomore Quinn Kusgen hit an improbable, if not impossible, half-court shot at the buzzer of the second OT as the No. 1 Blair Oaks Falcons stunned the No. 2 Father Tolton Trailblazers 58-57 in the championship game of the Class 3 District 9 Tournament.

Do you believe in miracles? Yes!

It was the brilliant thrill of victory and the heartbreaking agony of defeat.

Ryan Fick has coached around 500 games in his career, but he has never, ever been a part of something like this.

"Absolutely not," the Falcons head coach said. "I don't know that as a player or a coach that I've ever seen anything like it. I've obviously seen game-winning shots, but not in that big of a game, not from half court, and after they'd seemingly hit the game-winning shot."

We'll start at the end.

It looked like the Falcons (26-2), who haven't lost this year, would be doomed by poor free throw shooting down the stretch of the second overtime. They missed four straight free throws in a 15-second span, before the Blazers (20-5) got it back with 20 seconds left, trailing only 55-54.

After crossing half court, Tolton senior Nate Schwartze lost the handle on the basketball near the free throw as time was running down. In a frenzied scramble, fellow senior Jonny Berndt was able to get the loose ball at the top of the key, where he made a 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left to give the Blazers a 57-55 lead.

"I thought," Fick said, "it was probably over."

It was, wasn't it? Well ...

Next came the 1.6 seconds that will forever live in Blair Oaks lore.

It started when Luke Northweather inbounded the ball to Kusgen near half court.

"We have situational plays like that and we work on that stuff in practice," Fick said. "Obviously, you can't simulate that environment, but kids know what needs to be done.

"But then, there are so many variables. Quinn caught it and got under the defense, then the last and most important variable, you have to have a little luck."

The heave hit nothing but net, a splash of history.

"It was amazing, it was a miracle!" Kusgen told Rod Smith.

Go crazy, folks, go crazy!

They did ... including the coach.

"I ran around like Jim Valvano, looking for somebody to hug," Fick said. "I really don't remember much, I just started running around.

"It's the most incredible game I've ever been a part of."

Eric Northweather led the Falcons --- who will meet either Butler (14-13) or Stockton (9-16) in the sectionals at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday --- with 21 points.

Here's guessing that game won't quite match this one.

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THE CLASS 2 DISTRICT 8 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME featured a bunch of ties and even more lead changes.

And that was just in the first quarter.

It was basketball like it oughta be ... a nose-to-nose battle with the season the line, a game tighter than your best friend's wallet.

It was back and forth like a ping pong match --- for 2 1/2 quarters, anyway.

Because while there was one more back, the game had seen its last forth.

The Eugene Eagles ended the third quarter with a 17-4 run, and would eventually end the game with a 33-12 flurry, as they pulled away for a 56-38 win over the New Haven Shamrocks to claim the district championship.

"It feels good," senior Tre Kempker said, "really good. I've waited a long time for this."

Indeed. This is a program that always hovers around 20 wins, but this was the Eagles' first district title in six years.

"This is very sweet and with the girls' win last night, we get to go (to the sectionals) with them," said Eagles coach Craig Engelbrecht. "That's pretty special."

The Eagles (18-6) led 10-9 after one quarter at the break. They had a 23-20 lead early in the third, before the Shamrocks (19-8) used a 6-0 run to nab a 26-23 edge. Engelebrecht took a timeout and whatever he said, it worked.

"We had good looks in the first half, we just weren't knocking shots down," said Engelbrecht, whose team will meet New Franklin (27-1) in the sectionals at 7:45 Wednesday at Helias. "Then we made a couple 3's and that got everybody fired up, we got a few run outs, and got some things in transition."

The game-turning surge started on 3-pointers by Caleb Walker and Tyler Renn, before Kempker converted an old-fashioned three-point play, and it was 32-26 in a blink.

And as it turned out, it was over.

"Midway through year," Engelbrecht said, "we kind of hit our stride and with the schedule we played, I think if prepared us for this moment."

Kempker, who totaled 18 points and 10 rebounds, is the backbone of the Eagles, but normally not over-emotional. But when plays were being made in the game-winning run, he let his emotions explode ... in a good way, of course.

Was that because or his own joy, or to fire up his teammates?

With a smile, Kempker said: "A little of both, I guess."

Chris Leuckel