Seeking their first win since Dec. 9, the Jefferson City boys basketball team was hoping for some kind of spark to get things going in the right direction again.
The Jays might have gotten the up-lifting win they were searching for, and it came in dramatic fashion.
Seth Stegeman hit a free throw with 15.6 seconds left and Jefferson City bounced back to claim a 55-54 win against Western (Ky.) in overtime Sunday in a loser's bracket semifinal in the Joe Machens Great 8 Classic at Fleming Fieldhouse.
"This could be exactly what we need - I hope," Jefferson City coach Blair Thompson said. "We needed something positive to happen."
After losing their last four games, including a one-point loss against Raytown South in a first-round game Saturday, the Jays found themselves in the midst of another matchup that was coming down the wire.
Jefferson City (3-4) led by 10 with 3:27 to play in regulation, but Western fought its way back and eventually tied the game at 47 when Terrell Howard sank a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from 10 feet past the half-court line.
"He lined up and it looked good out of his hand - the trajectory, the line," Thompson said. "It barely hit the rim. He nailed it."
The Warriors took their first lead of the game with 2:26 left in overtime and went up by five points after a layup by Howard with 1:10 to play.
But the Jays never quit fighting.
O.G. Anunoby answered with a 3-pointer and Jacob Gourley laid in a bucket on a fast break following a steal by Jefferson City that tied the game at 54 with 15.6 seconds remaining.
"I can't believe that actually went in," Gourley said. "I'm glad I got that for my team. Everybody's been telling me it was rattling around the rim and popped in. It was pretty exciting."
Gourley was fouled on the play, and as a result, could not shoot the ensuing free throw. Without hesitation, Thompson looked to Stegeman, who had been sitting on the Jays' bench for most of the fourth quarter.
The junior didn't shy away from the challenge and delivered to put the Jays up by one.
"I just jumped up and thought I needed to knock it down for my team," Stegeman said. "Jacob did a great job of finishing at the basket. I just did my job and made a free throw."
Western got a shot off following the make by Stegeman, but it fell short and Rhylin Spence was there to secure the rebound as the final buzzer sounded.
"They're a good team," Anunoby said. "This is a good momentum win. We've been in some tough games and came out on the wrong end of them. It's nice to get a win. "
Anunoby finished with a game-high 26 points to go along with eight rebounds and three blocks. Spence added nine points and Eysan Wiley chipped in with seven for the Jays.
Jefferson City was 18-of-40 (45 percent) from the field and 16-of-28 (57 percent) from the free-throw line. The Jays were 5-of-11 from the stripe in the fourth quarter - 2-of-6 in the final 1:54 - and committed seven turnovers in the final period.
"Turnovers have cost us games just like free throws have," Thompson said. "We're a young team. We'll get better."
Howard finished with 19 points to lead three Warriors in double figures. Kyle Raque added 14 and Dontre Lowe chipped in with 10 to help pace Western, which was 19-of-55 from the field and 9-of-14 from the free-throw line.
The Warriors were outrebounded 31-30, but Western only had 14 turnovers compared to 21 by Jefferson City.
"I'm proud we made the big play at the end, but we have to be solid enough to where we don't put ourselves in those situations," Thompson said. "We've got 20 games to go. I think we'll be fine by the time it's over. Right now we've just got to keep working."
Jefferson City held a 6-3 advantage after the first quarter, going 2-of-10 from the field while holding Western to one 3-pointer.
The Jays opened up the second quarter with an 8-1 run that was capped by a one-handed dunk by Anunoby following a steal to give Jefferson City a 13-point lead, its largest of the night, with 3:38 to play before halftime.
Western was able to pull within four points midway through the third quarter before Jefferson City could take a 33-25 advantage into the final period.
The Jays extended their lead to 10 following a layup by Spence with 3:27 to play, but Western closed out regulation with a 14-4 run.
"It was a snowball effect," Thompson said. "We handled, in reality, the late-game situation about as poorly as we possible could. That's characteristic of a young team - just turning the ball over and not making free throws with a lead."
Despite its struggles in the fourth quarter, Jefferson City will now try to build off Saturday's win when the Jays take on Lausann (Tenn.) at 4 p.m. today in a consolation game at Fleming Fieldhouse.
"It's a big win since we were kind of in a drought for a little bit," Stegeman said. "I think it's going to help us get back on track."