INDIANAPOLIS
The legend of Trayce Jackson-Davis grew by approximately 63 feet Friday night.
With overtime a virtual certainty at Lawrence North, Center Grove’s junior center grabbed the rebound with time about to expire. He dribbled once and had the presence of mind to heave a three-quarters-court shot that glanced off the glass and through the net.
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Center Grove 48, Lawrence North 45.
The collective gasp from those in attendance was matched only by the celebratory pile that formed in front of the Trojans bench as Jackson-Davis capped an unforgettable game with his second triple of the evening.
He would finish with 21 points and 10 rebounds for Center Grove (12-4, 2-2 in the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference). Senior guard Nate McLain came through with 18 points and senior forward Joey Klaasen with four points and seven board.
For Jackson-Davis, the evaluation process began the instant the basketball exited his left hand.
“I threw it up and about midway I saw it starting to line up. I was thinking, ‘It might have a chance’,” he said. “I was right inside the (Lawrence North) free throw line.”
Jackson-Davis’ heroics — and well as those from junior guard Spencer Piercefield — were necessary after a 14-2 Wildcats scoring run lifted the hosts to a 45-42 lead with 27.9 seconds remaining.
On the ensuing possession, Piercefield, who was only 1 of 5 from the floor at that point, calmly drained a 3-pointer from the right wing with 15.9 seconds showing. Lawrence North missed its potential game-winner at the other end, leading to the Jackson-Davis heave.
The way the game concluded overshadowed the Trojans’ defensive effort, holding the Wildcats to 16 of 46 shooting from the floor. Lawrence North did itself no favors from the free throw line, either, making only 9 of 23.
Afterward, Center Grove coach Zach Hahn liked the way his squad handled adversity down the stretch better than at other points this season.
“You’re thinking about overtime, honestly, but (Jackson-Davis) made one against (Lawrence Central) last year that kind of changed the course of our season,” Hahn said. “When the game’s on the line your best player has got to step up.
“We did some things correct at the end of the game tonight that we had done wrong against (Hamilton Southeastern) and Ben Davis. I’m most proud not because the shot went in, but because they were tough and learned from previous experiences.”
Junior guard Dexter Shouse scored 15 points to lead the Wildcats (11-5, 1-3), while senior forward Kevin Easley added 10 points and nine rebounds.
Center Grove led the entire first half with McLain scoring the team’s first 11 points on a trio of 3-pointers and a layup en route to a 24-21 advantage at intermission.
Up by as many as nine points the opening period, the Trojans were outscored in the second with Wildcats junior guard Jared Hankins contributing seven of the home team’s points.
Lawrence North didn’t lead until an Easley trey from the top of the key with 1:02 left in the fourth period.
Center Grove returns home Thursday to host Class 4A No. 2 Warren Central.
