SHERIDAN, Ar. — Lake Hamilton’s boys won a 52-minute basketball game Friday in arguably the biggest upset of the AAA’s 5A State Basketball Tournament at Yellowjacket Arena.
Senior Demetrius Sharp poured in 35 points and Lake Hamilton persevered a five-overtime thriller to beat Little Rock Parkview, 87-81. The Wolves advance to play Marion in the semifinals Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
“It was a rollercoaster of emotions,” said a jubilant Lake Hamilton coach Scotty Pennington. “I’m at a loss of words for my kids. Their heart and character is simply amazing.
“Parkview played ten guys and we played six. I don’t even know how many overtimes there were, but we fought through it and found a way to win. We beat a great basketball team.”
A real thriller at Yellowjacket Arena
Perhaps the most amazing fact was that Lake Hamilton had opportunities to win in regulation and all five extra periods.
The Wolves (23-6) led 44-38 with 3:15 left in regulation. It was a two-point lead when Parkview’s Cameron Wallace made two free throws to tie the score. Lake Hamilton missed two shots at the end, sending the contest into Overtime No. 1
Sharp missed a 3-pointer with the score tied 54-54 at the buzzer. Zach Pennington’s 15-footer with four seconds left in the second overtime bounced off the rim with the score tied 58-58. Lake Hamilton missed another last-second shot at the end of the third OT. The most amazing shot of the game came at the buzzer when Parkview’s Jaylen Thomas-Miller swished a 25-footer to send the contest into a fifth overtime at 72-72.
Late technical was a game-changer
Parkview players rushed onto the court early and received a technical foul. It was a game-changer. Pennington converted both technical free throws, and the Wolves would not trail again. Pennington was 10-10 from the charity stripe in the final four-minute OT. Sharp made four of his 15 charity shots.
Sharp wasn’t the only standout for the Wolves. Sophomore Ty Robinson contributed 21 points before fouling out with 2:07 left in the fourth overtime. Pennington added 20 points. Senior Chase Jessup, junior Charter Harris and sophomore Easton Hurley were also major contributors.
“We feel like our backcourt (Sharp and Pennington) is the best backcourt in the state of Arkansas,” said the elder Pennington. “They don’t get the pub that a Parkview gets, but I wouldn’t trade them for anybody.”
Sharp summed it up best at the end. “I’m tired!”