Olathe North survives against Blue Valley North for substate championship

Olathe North junior RJ Smith was at a loss for words following the Eagles’ thrilling 57-56 victory over Blue Valley North on Friday night in a Kansas 6A substate championship game at Olathe North.

Both teams made big plays, but Olathe North overcame a nine-point third-quarter deficit for the win.

“I don’t know if I have ever been involved in something that incredible when both teams were so hot and both teams made big plays,” said Olathe North coach Jeff Walton. “We knew we were in for a heck of a dogfight because everybody in town knows Blue Valley North doesn’t beat itself, and they didn’t tonight.”

Olathe North was trailing by two points with 17 seconds left and called timeout. The Eagles got the ball in Smith’s hands with 6 seconds left. He drove the baseline and hit a 5-foot bank shot that tied the game with 3.2 seconds left — and got fouled.

Another timeout was called, so Smith had a minute to think about sending Olathe North to its first state tournament since 2002. A made free throw by smith was also going to prevent the Mustangs from returning to state, where they were runners-up last year.

“I was nervous,” said Smith, who finished with 12 points. “This was amazing. I will never forget it. It just went in. I had to hit the free throw for my team.”

It was fitting that he got his hands on the ball at the end of the game and flicked it high in the air as the clock ticked to zero.

“It is tough,” BV North coach Ryan Phifer said. “Both teams played so hard. Both teams are deserving of making it to the state tournament. I thought our guys battled and battled.”

The Mustangs grabbed the momentum midway through the third quarter behind the play of 6-foot-6 senior forward Cooper Cook.

Early in the third quarter, Cook broke a 32-32 tie with a three-pointer. He followed that with a three-point play and then another three-pointer, giving BV North a 41-32 lead with 4:20 left in the third quarter.

Cook scored 16 of his game-high 28 in the third quarter.

“He is a special player,” Phifer said of Cook. “I am honored to coach him. When he finds his rhythm, he is unstoppable.”

But the all out hustle by Olathe North’s 6-5 senior Josh Moore helped the Eagles close to 49-44 entering the fourth quarter.

The final quarter featured five lead changes and clutch shooting by both sides. With 3:10 left, BV North took a 52-51 lead on a three-pointer by sophomore Colby Bullock.

Olathe North senior Mackay Williams answered with his fourth three-pointer of the game, putting the Eagles ahead 54-52 with 2:20 left.

The Mustangs grabbed their final lead at 56-54 on two free throws by Bullock with 22 seconds left, and that set up the game-winning play by Smith.

“We made some plays down the stretch that we thought would win the game,” Phifer said. “Unfortunately, the ball didn’t bounce our way in the end.”

This story was originally published March 6, 2015 at 9:45 PM with the headline "Olathe North survives against Blue Valley North for substate championship."