Buzzer beater earns Hawthorne district title

Hawthorne's C.J. Ingram snags a rebound against Newberry in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.
Hawthorne's C.J. Ingram snags a rebound against Newberry in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.
Photo by C.J. Gish

The Hawthorne Hornets boys basketball team was playing for their 12th consecutive district title on Friday night at Newberry.

And while this one may have been the toughest yet, the Hornets got it done once again.

Isaac Taplis’s fadeaway 10-foot jumper from the left baseline just beat the buzzer and visiting Hawthorne pulled out a 48-47 win at Newberry to capture the District 6-1A title.

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Mason Smith hit a turnaround 15-foot jumper with 17.9 seconds left to give the Panthers a 47-46 lead.

Newberry's Michael Moore (1) and Ray White (0) battle with Hawthorne's Tyler Jefferson for a rebound in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.
Photo by C.J. Gish Newberry’s Michael Moore (1) and Ray White (0) battle with Hawthorne’s Tyler Jefferson for a rebound in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.

Sophomore C.J. Ingram brought the ball down the court and missed a shot and Leland Johnson missed the putback attempt. Senior Jammel Gillins missed a third opportunity for the Hornets underneath the basket, but the ball bounced to the left of the basket and Taplis picked up the loose ball and hit the jumper before the buzzer.

“Coming in I knew they (Newberry) would play inspired,” Hawthorne coach Greg Bowie said. “I expected with them playing at home and with the tough schedule they have played that it would be a tough game.”

Early on it looked like Newberry (21-6) was going to blow out Hawthorne (9-6). The Panthers knocked down three three-pointers in the opening period and led 13-6.

Smith hit another trey as did freshman Juwan Scippio, and Newberry led by as many as 10 points in the second period before settling for a 27-17 lead at halftime.

But the game changed in the third quarter as Hawthorne (9-6) worked their way back. Taplis, who went scoreless in the first half, scored eight straight points, including back-to-back 3-pointers.

The Hornets outscored Newberry 16-9 in the third quarter and pulled with three points at 36-33 heading into the final quarter.

Hawthorne's Isaac Taplis defends Newberry's Mason Smith in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.
Photo by C.J. Gish Hawthorne’s Isaac Taplis defends Newberry’s Mason Smith in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.

“They (Newberry) had a 10-point lead at halftime,” Bowie said. “I told the guys at halftime that we had to close out on their shooters, and we had to limit them from attacking to the basket. We responded to the challenge and some shots started to go down.”

BOYS BASKETBALL – District championship game results

6A-District 2

Gainesville 59Buchholz 55

5A-District 2

Columbia (Lake City) 68, Rickards (Tallahassee) 38

4A-District 5

North Marion (Citra) 71, Santa Fe (Alachua) 69

3A-District 2

2A-District 4
Redeemer Christian (Ocala) 68,  Oak Hall 58

P.K. Yonge 54, Interlachen 41

1A-District 7

Williston 70, Wildwood 60

1A-District 6

Hawthorne 48Newberry 47

Hawthorne's Tyler Jefferson snags a lose ball against Newberry in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.
Photo by C.J. Gish Hawthorne’s Tyler Jefferson snags a lose ball against Newberry in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.
Hawthorne's Jammel Gillins with a shot against Newberry in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.
Photo by C.J. Gish Hawthorne’s Jammel Gillins with a shot against Newberry in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.
Newberry's C.J. Ingram shoots against Newberry in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.
Photo by C.J. Gish Newberry’s C.J. Ingram shoots against Newberry in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.
Newberry's Logan McCloud (10) and Mason Smith (3) battle Hawthorne's Demetrius Brown (14) for a rebound in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.
Photo by C.J. Gish Newberry’s Logan McCloud (10) and Mason Smith (3) battle Hawthorne’s Demetrius Brown (14) for a rebound in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.
Newberry's Michael Moore with a shot attempt against Hawthorne in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.
Photo by C.J. Gish Newberry’s Michael Moore with a shot attempt against Hawthorne in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.
Newberry's Juwan Scippio (24) draws an offensive charge from Hawthorne's Leland Johnson in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.
Photo by C.J. Gish Newberry’s Juwan Scippio (24) draws an offensive charge from Hawthorne’s Leland Johnson in the District 1A-6 championship game on Friday.

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