Slone's free throws in OT lift Willard past Norwalk

NORWALK — The moment found Aiden Slone. And despite what the stat sheet said, the pressure moment wasn't too big for the Willard senior. Coming off the bench in limited minutes for the state-ranked Crimson Flashes, Slone had not attempted a shot or grabbed a rebound — but had committed four fouls by the closing seconds of Saturday's overtime thriller at Norwalk. Slone was in the game — which saw the Flashes trail by 14 in the third quarter and by six with under two minutes left in the fourth — because both Cam and Isaac Robinson had fouled out. And in a 68-68 deadlock, Slone was fouled after grabbing a loose ball after a Norwalk free throw miss with 5.3 seconds left. "My heart was pounding," Slone said. "I hadn't shot the ball in the game yet, and I had no idea if I was going to make it or not." Not only had Slone not attempted a shot in the game, he had also made just two free throws in the previous 12 games on just six attempts. But none of that mattered, as he calmly sank both foul shots, and the Crimson Flashes got a defensive stop at the other end for the 70-68 win over the Truckers. Willard — ranked No. 9 in the second Division II Associated Press state poll — improved to 11-2, while Norwalk was denied a fifth straight win and fell to 8-5. "As soon as the first one went in, I just knew I was going to make the second one," Slone said. "Our coaches tell us to be locked in at all times, because you never know when you're going to come in and be put in that spot." The Truckers took a 56-44 lead into the fourth quarter, and they led 61-50 with 4:03 left after two foul shots by Mason Gamble. Ben Rothhaar split a pair of free throws to put the Truckers up 63-57 with 1:41 left. Trailing 65-62 after Jordan Parriott made a free throw with 28 seconds left, Willard's Max Dawson buried a 3 from the top of the key with 17.3 seconds left to tie the game at 65 and the game went to overtime. Norwalk used up a good portion of the first minute-plus in OT, then Gamble was called for a charge with 2:44 left, which was also his fifth foul. Dalton Chapin gave Norwalk a 67-65 lead with 1:08 left, and Dawson made one free throw with 50 seconds. The Truckers missed two more free throws with 34 seconds left, and Dawson delivered at the other end with a basket and a 68-67 lead with 22 seconds left. Parriott was fouled with 10.3 seconds left and made one free throw, but on the scramble after his miss, Slone was there for the big rebound and game-winning free throws. Needing to go the full length of the court, the Truckers got it to Parriott, who broke toward the top of the key as time was running out. However, Willard's Masyn Johson poked the ball free, which went right to Chapin, who then forced to take an off-balance, last-ditch 3 that never had a chance. "Aiden didn't play last year, and he's a senior making the most of it, and I couldn't be happier for him," Willard coach Joe Bedingfield said of Slone. "He's a kid who embraces his role coming in off the bench and doesn't know what nerves are. "He's a good shooter, and good for him. I asked him afterwards, 'Aren't you glad you came back out for basketball?' Very happy for him." Dawson led all scorers with 25 points, followed by Isaac Robinson with 18 and Cam Robinson with 16. Gamble had 19 points and six rebounds for the Truckers, with Chapin adding 17 points and six rebounds. Ferkel and Rothhaar each scored 11, and Parriott had 10 points. "I think we played too well to not win that game," Norwalk coach Adam Kreischer said. "Obviously, Gamble fouling out on the charge puts him out of the game and wiped two points off the board. He was playing so well tonight and controlling the game quite a bit, so obviously that hurt to have to play the overtime without him. "A lot of it came down to free throws. If we step up and make free throws down the stretch, we win the game." WILLARD Jackson Beamer 3-1—9; Aiden Slone 0-2—2; Max Dawson 8-7—25; Isaac Robinson 6-0—18; Cam Robinson 6-4—16. TOTALS 23-14—70 NORWALK Jordan Parriott 3-4—10; Mason Gamble 8-2—19; Landon Ferkel 3-4–11; Dalton Chapin 5-3—17; Ben Rothhaar 5-1—11. TOTALS 24-14—68 Willard 14 13 17 21 5 — 70Norwalk 19 21 16 9 3 — 68 3-point goals: Willard 10 (I. Robinson 6, Beamer 2, Dawson 2); Norwalk 6 (Chapin 4, Gamble, Ferkel)