Irmo stuns top-ranked Blythewood on buzzer-beater to advance to state title game

In early January, Irmo coach Tim Whipple was just hoping to find a way to will his Yellow Jackets into the playoffs.

Now, after one of the most improbable runs of his 30-plus-year career, Irmo and Whipple will be playing in their 10th state championship after after a stunning 49-48 win against Blythewood in the Lower State Championship on Saturday night.

Hasuan Rivers capped the second-half rally with a layup at the buzzer to set off a frenzied celebration on the Florence Civic Center floor.

“This group proved so much to me about their character and who they are by what they did to get to this point,” Whipple said. “No matter what happened tonight, I was going to be extremely proud of them.”

Irmo was 11-7 and 2-5 in region play but has won nine in a row to make it back to the state finals for the first time since losing in 2016. The Yellow Jackets will face defending state champion Dorman on Friday at 8:30 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena.

The ending was as improbable as the season.

Top-ranked Blythewood took a 48-47 lead when Jonathan Breeland scored with 33 seconds remaining. Irmo (21-7) ran the clock down to take the last shot, but there was a tie-up under the basket with three seconds remaining. Possession stayed with the Yellow Jackets on the alternating possessions.

Whipple called a time-out and drew up one of the most important plays of his Hall of Fame career.

“It’s a set play, and we have several options, and that is the first option,” Whipple said of the game-winner. “Luckily, they played straight-up man and it was open. You have to pass it, you have to catch it and you have to finish. That was an excruciating bounce or two on the rim before it went in.”

Raekwon Heath threw the inbounds pass to a cutting Rivers, who threw up the layup that bounced around the rim before falling through at the buzzer.

“Coach drew the play up, and I saw they didn’t have anybody down low,” Rivers said. “I got the layup and I thought I missed it. It bounced for a few seconds and went in and before you knew it, the buzzer went off. That was a great feeling.”

The region rivals played for the Lower State championship a season ago, and the Bengals had a four-game winning streak in the series coming in. It looked like Blythewood would make it five in a row when they extended a seven-point halftime lead to 10, 40-30, with 4:33 remaining in the third quarter.

The Yellow Jackets closed the period on a 9-3 run to get back within striking distance then held the Bengals to just five points in the final eight minutes and 13 points in the second half.

“Blythewood had to expend a lot of energy thoughout that game pressing and working and playing man, which they haven’t played as much,” Whipple said. “They got worn out in the third quarter as well. Us getting within striking distance was important because we easily could have lost this game by 15 points.”

Winton Hill led Irmo with 12 points and Rivers added 11.

Tre Jackson scored 17 points for the Bengals and Robert Braswell added 14. But Irmo limited the duo to just four points in the second half, which proved to be key to the comeback.

This story was originally published February 24, 2018 at 10:55 PM with the headline "Irmo stuns top-ranked Blythewood on buzzer-beater to advance to state title game."