Watch Ray-Pec senior Cole Kruse hit a game-winning three-pointer to win district championship

Through 35-plus minutes Friday, Raymore-Peculiar senior Cole Kruse had not attempted a shot all game.

His first one made for a memorable night.

Kruse swished a game-winning three-pointer with 4.1 seconds left in overtime, the final bucket in the Panthers' dramatic 47-44 victory against Lee's Summit West in the Missouri Class 5, District 13 championship game.

"It felt good off my hand," Kruse said. "I just watched it in flight. It seemed like it was in the air forever."

But Ray-Pec didn't settle for one buzzer-beater Friday.

How about three?

The Panthers forced overtime when Nathan Janssen drilled an off-balanced three-pointer as time expired. Senior James Sappington ended with a third quarter with a layup as the buzzer sounded, which tied the game at 26.

The final three horns came equipped with Ray-Pec baskets.

"I've been a part of a lot of fun games, but that was one of the best," Ray-Pec coach Scott Jermain said. "That was awesome."

The teams traded four leads in the fourth quarter and three more in the four-minute bonus period. In overtime, Ray-Pec effectively wasted the final two minutes off the clock, setting up Kruse's game-winning three from the corner.

Lee's Summit West even hit a buzzer-beater of its own. Mario Goodrich nailed a three-pointer while being fouled, then sank the free throw for a five-point halftime advantage.

That was the first buzzer-beater of the night.

The ensuing three belonged to Ray-Pec.

"That was my first shot all game, but when I got the ball, I was like, 'I gotta take this shot,'" Kruse said of his game-winner. "When it went in, I couldn't believe it. The place just went crazy."

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 11:50 PM with the headline "Watch Ray-Pec senior Cole Kruse hit a game-winning three-pointer to win district championship."