Rockford Lutheran's playoff run ends as buzzer beater comes up short
STERLING — Senior point guard Walt Hill, Jr. did almost everything for Lutheran on Monday night, except find a way to bury a long 3, with three defenders on him, at the buzzer.
After his tough shot rattled out, Lutheran fell just short of exacting revenge during Monday's Class 2A Sterling super sectional showdown with Taylor Ridge Rockridge, falling 60-59.
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Lutheran was eliminated in last year's Sterling super sectional by Rockridge 57-52, but this time the Crusaders had a chance at the buzzer.
Hill, who scored 28 points and had 6 steals and five assists, somehow got off a shot just before the buzzer, in traffic, but it was just short, and didn't bounce in.
Oh what a finish, but that’s it for @RLBasketball, as this Walt Hill 3 falls just short at the buzzer of 60-59 loss… pic.twitter.com/xRhl9a6K01
— Jay Taft (@JayTaft) March 7, 2023
Hill had just buried his final 3-pointer of the game with 14 seconds left to cut the Rockridge lead to one, but that was as close as Lutheran (26-10) would get.
Lutheran has placed four times at state, but the Crusaders will have to wait at least another year for another shot.
Rockridge will face Bloomington Central Catholic in Champaign Thursday in the 2A state semifinals.
Jay Taft is a Rockford Register Star sports reporter. Email him at jtaft@rrstar.com and follow him on Twitter at @JayTaft.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford Lutheran loses in 2023 IHSA super sectionals by 1 point
