In the middle, was a team that drew inspiration from all of them in a 46-42 overtime victory over Cincinnati Oak Hills , sending the Wildcats to the state Sweet 16 for the second time in three years. That's no small feat in this part of Ohio.
In winning a second straight overtime thriller, the Wildcats continued to define the program the way Carson wants it to be known. The Cats, ranked No. 10 in the state, played relentless defense, were unafraid of adversity and proved again that they are calm enough to make shots when they need them most.
Jackson and Alexander were seniors on the 2015 team that reached the regional final. Danny Davis, this year’s senior star and the Southwest District Player of the Year, is a four-year starter and was the leading scorer as a sophomore. He knew Jackson, the leading scorer at Edison State this year, and Alexander were at the game and was excited to talk about them while his teammates were cutting down the net.
RELATED: Special sports year continues for Springfield
“We didn’t get to finish like we wanted to,” Davis said of the ’15 team. “But the chemistry that this team has is so similar to that team. Us just finishing games like that says a lot. We’re battle-tested and we’re ready to compete with anybody.”
Next up is Cincinnati La Salle at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Nutter Center. The Wildcats (23-3) beat La Salle on their tournament run two years ago. The run ended against Wayne, which went on to win the state title.
“When we went to the regional a couple years ago we were just along for the ride,” Carson said. “I don’t know that we envisioned that we could really be there. Nobody expected that. But now we’re at the point where we expect this as a program.”
It takes a program mindset to do what the Wildcats are doing year after year. This was their third straight district final. And to have the confidence and poise to rally like they have the past two games takes players and coaches who have been together for more than a season or two.
“We’re all brothers, we all know our roles, we’re not out trying to do anything we’re not supposed to do,” Davis said. “We’re just all out here playing together, and that’s what I love about this team.”
In last week's sectional final, the Wildcats trailed by 13 points. Davis fouled out with them down by 10. But the rest of the team rallied to win in overtime .
On Saturday night in the final 37 seconds of regulation, it took a 3-pointer by Davis and a long outlet pass from Davis to Michael McKay among other things to get to overtime. In overtime, McKay hit a go-ahead 3-pointer and Michael Wallace made two clinching free throws with eight seconds left.
“They’ve been in this position and know what it takes,” Carson said. “That’s why they step up and make the plays that they make.”
Wallace, a junior guard and first-year starter, adds, “It’s just our bond for each other.”
In taking the Wildcats from a team that hopes to win to a true program that expects to win, Carson sees an effect beyond the court.
“My kids believe everything that I’m saying, and it’s not just on the court – it’s off the court,” he said. “And we speak about our community. And we’re making our community proud, we’re making our community a better place again.
“When I was growing up our community was at its happiest time when our high school sports teams were rolling. It’s snowballing, and it’s not just basketball. It’s football now. And other things are coming with it. New jobs are moving into the area, everything is starting to flow through Springfield. So we’re just trying to keep this going, and we want to be one of the main reasons to make this city proud.”
DIVISION I REGIONALS
Wednesday, March 15
at Wright State’s Nutter Center
Moeller vs. Mason, 6:15 p.m.
Springfield vs. La Salle, 8 p.m.
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