Whiteford boys reach regional finals for third time in school history
GRASS LAKE – Evan Parker checked into the semifinals of the Division 3 regional at Grass Lake Tuesday with 56 seconds remaining.
He couldn't help but think about hitting a shot that would propel Whiteford into the finals.
When the chance came, he drilled it.
Parker’s 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left lifted the Bobcats to a 37-34 win over Ypsilanti Arbor Prep and gave them a berth in Thursday’s championship.
“I was supposed to go up and set the screen, but after the last timeout as we were walking onto the floor, I told Ryin (Ruddy) to set the screen and I was going to pop out,” Parker said. “The opportunity came and I just hit it.”
Parker was on the bench for a big stretch of the fourth quarter after getting in foul trouble. With the score tied 34-34, Arbor Prep got a shot off with about 1:28 left that was off the mark and Hunter DeBarr grabbed the rebound.
The Bobcats called timeout.
They would call two more timeouts as they held the ball for a last-second shot.
“That was the plan,” Whiteford coach Nick Abalos said. “We wanted to have the ball in our hands and be in control.”
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Lincoln Joerin and DeBarr passed the ball back and forth several times, avoiding pressure from the Gator defenders. The final Bobcat timeout came with 28.6 seconds remaining. Joerin started to drive and when the defense collapsed on him he found Parker, who was at the three-point line just in front of the Whiteford bench.
He hit the shot. The clock ran out, but the referees added 1.2 seconds to the clock when Arbor Prep called timeout. The Gators got a shot off but missed, sending Whiteford into the regional finals for just the third time in school history.
“Before the game, they told us that if we won only two other Whiteford teams had ever gone this far,” Parker said. “It was cool to be part of history.”
Abalos was happy to have Parker on the floor in that situation. It was his first bucket since the first quarter. He finished with six points.
“Just proud of him,” Abalos said. “He was out for a while, but we subbed him in for offense at the end.”
Joerin led Whiteford with nine points in the low-scoring game. Josh Hill and DeBarr each scored eight points. Joerin hit two big 3s in third quarter, including one after the Bobcats fell behind 24-15, its largest deficit of the game.
The Bobcats (17-8) will take on Riverview Gabriel Richard at 7 p.m. Thursday back in Grass Lake.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to play Richard,” Abalos said. “We’ll watch some film and put a game plan together. The kids will be ready.”
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Whiteford boys basketball moves into regional finals over Grass Lake
