McKay's shot lifts Headland over Carroll

OZARK — Thirty-one minutes and 40 seconds failed to separate the Headland and Carroll basketball teams.

But Rams guard Jeremy McKay had the ball right where he wanted it — in his hands.

McKay, working out front, dribbled the clock down to around seven seconds, made a lightning quick move to his right around a double-team and drove to the basket, lofting a shot that kissed off the glass and through the basket with 2.8 seconds left that gave Headland a 47-45 victory on Tuesday night.

“After the loss against Abbeville, I said, uh-uh, I had to have the ball in my hands. I had to get this last point,” said McKay, who finished with 24 points and eight rebounds, four off the offensive boards. “I just wanted to penetrate, get to the hole. If I couldn’t get to the hole I was going to kick it out, let one of my teammates shoot it.”

“He’s been doing that since he’s been at Headland,” Rams coach George Bennett said. “We just tried to give him a clear out. I’m looking forward to who he’s going to sign with, because somebody’s really going to be blessed by that kid.”

It was hardly a defensive breakdown by the Eagles. In fact, the double-team created a turnover on the prior possession as the Rams were trying to protect a one-point lead.

“A good player like he is, he made an adjustment. He faked going over the top and beat the guy by a step,” Carroll coach Phillip Landers said. “Our off-side help didn’t react in time.”

As McKay said, Headland was coming off a loss to Abbeville — its first loss of the season.

“I was waiting to see how they would respond,” Bennett said. “I’m real proud of them. That’s basketball. That’s the type of game you want to be in. That will prepare you for down the road for state competition and really tough teams that you face along the road.”

Neither team shot very well against the other’s very tough defense. But Headland got many more second-chance points thanks to better offensive rebounding.

Half of McKay’s eight rebounds were on the offensive end. And six of Jahwon Williams’ team-high 12 rebounds were also offensive boards.

“That was the difference in the game,” Landers said.

The score was very close throughout. Carroll opened a 16-8 lead early in the second quarter, but the Rams led 20-19 at halftime. Headland took a 30-27 edge into the fourth quarter.

That’s when the Rams’ superiority on the offensive glass gave them the edge. Headland’s Williams, who finished with 11 points, tipped in a loose ball to make it 38-30 with 4:58 left.

Trailing 43-35, Carroll’s Daren Wilson hit a 3-pointer, then drove the lane for a bucket that made it 43-40 with 2:02 to play.

Williams hit an 18-footer to put the Rams up 45-40, but two free throws by Kevin Jenkins cut Headland’s lead to 45-42 at the 1:21 mark.

The Eagles’ Shakeel Johnson scored on a putback to make it 45-44 with 35.8 seconds remaining.

Carroll’s Kevin Jenkins intercepted a pass by Williams. Jenkins got the ball to Bryant McCray, who was fouled with 28.5 seconds remaining.

McCray made the first free throw that tied the game at 45-all. He missed long with the second shot.

The Eagles (7-5) were 3-for-9 from the foul line in the first half and 12-of-22 for the game. Headland was just 2-for-5 for the game.

“We’ve struggled from the free-throw line all year,” Landers said. “Most people know we’re not a real good shooting team. We have to make up for that discrepancy in other ways. We held them to 47. They’re a very good team.

“Our guys played hard. I’ve got good kids. They want to win. We’re trying to learn how to win. They just need to win one of these.”

Carroll girls 78, Headland 27: Kadaleus Gissendanner scored 23 points to help Carroll defeated the visiting Rams.

Haley Smith added 18 points.

Tia Faleru scored 14 points, but added 12 rebounds, eight assists, eight steals and three blocked shots.

“We got a big lead and were able to play her at guard a lot tonight,” Carroll coach Curtis Stapleton said.

Leigh Money led the Rams with 12 points.

Carroll led 23-5 after the first quarter, 42-12 at halftime and 67-21 after three quarters.