St. Xavier basketball tops Trinity on controversial bucket in OT, reaches LIT title sport – Courier Journal

What’s the St. Xavier-Trinity rivalry and not using a little controversy?
Within the newest basketball battle between the Catholic faculty powerhouses, Chief Cameron’s tip-in on the buzzer — or, after the buzzer — was the distinction as St. X beat Trinity, 59-58, in extra time Friday within the semifinals of the Republic Financial institution Louisville Invitational Match.
A packed home at Valley noticed Josiah Lawson’s free throw give Trinity a 58-57 lead with 5.4 seconds left in extra time. After two timeouts, St. X’s Jeremiah Jackson drove the courtroom and tossed up an off-balance shot that missed.
Cameron was there for the rebound and put it in for the St. X victory. Replays and pictures appeared to point out the ball in Cameron’s fingers because the clock hit 0:00.
“Proper place, proper time,” mentioned Cameron, who led the Tigers with 14 factors. “We ran the incorrect play, however profitable is all that issues.”
Ranked No. 9 within the state, St. X improved to 14-2 and superior to the LIT closing for the primary time since 1967. The Tigers misplaced that closing to Male, 59-53, and haven’t captured an LIT crown since 1965.
St. X will face Butler at 5 p.m. Saturday within the closing at Valley.
“We haven’t received it in a very long time,” Tigers coach Kevin Klein mentioned. “These youngsters have quite a lot of drive and motivation. They’re actually hungry and have a giant chip on their shoulder.”
Connor Klein hit 4 3-pointers for St. X.
Julius Edmonds scored 17 factors to steer No. 4 Trinity (15-4). Assistant coach Bret Saxton downplayed the controversy surrounding Cameron’s game-winner.
“It shouldn’t have come all the way down to that,” Saxton mentioned. “Seventeen turnovers was the largest problem. I used to be happy with the best way we competed on the glass … however we weren’t in a position to restrict their 3s, particularly within the second half.”
Edmonds scored three straight baskets to provide Trinity a 40-33 lead halfway by way of the third quarter, however St. X responded with an 18-5 surge. Brandon Dayes’ 3-pointer capped it and gave the Tigers a 51-45 lead with 4:20 left in regulation.
Jayden Johnson sank two free throws to provide Trinity a 53-51 lead with 1:23 left, however Cameron’s basket with 39 seconds remaining tied it at 53, resulting in extra time.
Trinity took two-point leads twice within the extra time earlier than St. X answered. Lawson was fouled on a drive with 5.4 seconds left and hit 1 of two free throws.
Klein disagreed with the foul name on Lawson.
“Thankfully, on the finish of the sport, the whistle went our approach,” Klein mentioned.
The coach mentioned he was happy for Cameron, a sophomore guard who entered the sport averaging 8.7 factors per contest.
“That’s simply who he’s,” Klein mentioned. “His motor by no means stops. He has an unimaginable knack for the ball. He simply goes and goes and goes. … He deserves for that to go his approach tonight.”
ST. XAVIER   15     13     16      9      6 – 59
TRINITY       18     12    11     12      5 – 58
St. Xavier (14-2) – Connor Klein 12, Chief Cameron 14, Likelihood Dillingham 8, Brandon Dayes 7, Graham Krezmien 5, Noa’Sosa Friedman 2, Jeremiah Jackson 5, Will Hanke 6.
Trinity (15-4) – Julius Edmonds 17, Lance Chandler 3, Drae Vasser 11, Avery Frasher 3, Josiah Lawson 10, Jayden Johnson 11, Alex Johnson 3.
Extra LIT protection:Butler basketball rallies late against top-seeded Manual, reaches LIT championship game
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; comply with on X @kyhighs.

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