Late-game heroics sends boys basketball back to state tournament
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Xavier Johnson, junior, shoots a three in the Royals’ 59-58 win over Eden Prairie.
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Students dress in white to cheer on the Royals.
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Boys basketball team celebrates with the Section 6AAAA trophy after the 59-58 win over Eden Prairie.
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Ishmael El-Amin, sophomore, makes a move on a defender during the 59-58 win over Eden Prairie in the Section 6AAAA championship game.
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Vinnie Shahid, junior, shoots a jumper in the Royals’ 59-58 win over Eden Prairie in the Section 6AAAA championship game.
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Xavier Johnson, junior, during the Royals’ 59-58 win over Eden Prairie in the Section 6AAAA championship game.
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Ishmael El-Amin, sophomore, shoots a three in the Royals’ 59-58 win over Eden Prairie in the Section 6AAAA championship game.
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John Warren, senior, goes up for a lay-up in the Royals’ 59-58 win over Eden Prairie in the Section 6AAAA championship game.
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Gregg Warshaw, senior, goes up for a shot in the Royals’ 59-58 win over Eden Prairie in the Section 6AAAA championship game.
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Students cheer on their Royals to a 59-58 win over Eden Prairie in the Section 6AAAA championship game.
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Mar 4, 2015
Blake Hoffarber had the butt shot in 2005. Jake Wright had the 3s in 2011. Amir Coffey had “the shot” in last year’s state semifinal.
Tonight, Vinnie Shahid, junior, cemented his place in Hopkins boys basketball glory as he sank two free throws with 1.3 seconds left to give the Royals a 59-58 win over the one-seed Eden Prairie Eagles in the Section 6AAAA championship game.
With the win, the Royals will be heading back to their home away from home; the Target Center.
The game began with the Royals struggling to score but eventually taking a 22-16 lead with ten minutes left in the half. From there, Eden Prairie went on a run of their own to tie it up and eventually take the lead.
The Royals and Eagles traded baskets and went into halftime with the Royals up 32-31.
The second half saw the Eagles make a run, the Royals answer, and then the Eagles make another run.
With Eden Prairie up 45-40 Graham Hutson, senior, hit a contested layup followed by a Shahid three and a forced turnover. This was the unofficial beginning to his remarkable night.
With 2:39 left in the game, the Eagles held a 56-49 lead. The prospect of a second-straight state appearance didn’t look good for the Royals.
Shahid stepped up and hit a three followed by an Ishmael El-Amin, sophomore, free throw which cut the EP lead to only 3 points with 1:25 left in the section championship.
Up 58-57 and 13.8 seconds remaining, the Eagles couldn’t convert on the 1-and-1 giving the Royals a shot to win.
After a loose ball was corralled by Shahid and multiple shots were missed by Royals players, Shahid got a rebound and threw up one final desperation shot and was fouled.
Two free throws, down one point. A state tournament berth on the line.
Shahid made the first to tie.
Shahid cocked the ball and swished the second to give the Royals a one point lead with 1.3 seconds left.
With no timeouts to set up a play, the Eagles inbound pass was intercepted by Xavier Johnson, junior, and pandemonium ensued. The Royals student section stormed the floor as the 59-58 win captured the Royals 15th state tournament berth under head coach Ken Novak Jr., a state record.
The Royals will play their first round state tournament game on Wednesday, March 11. The state tournament bracket will be released later this week.