Jarkel Joiner brought the hype. Landon Harrison stole his thunder.
The Helias junior dominated the second half, scoring 29 points after the break. He finished with a career-high 44 points - setting a new Great 8 Classic single-game record - and led the Crusaders to an 88-80 first-round win against Oxford (Miss.) at Fleming Fieldhouse.
"Right when the third quarter started, I was like, 'We've got to turn it up,'" Harrison said. "I hit a couple of big shots, had a couple of run-out layups on fast breaks.
"My teammates fed off that, because we had other guys step up big tonight."
Harrison shot 15-of-25 from the field and made six 3-pointers. He keyed a 13-1 Helias run to start the second half, turning a 43-40 halftime deficit into a 53-44 lead the Crusaders would never relinquish.
Helias coach Josh Buffington knew Oxford was going to push the ball, as the Chargers average more than 70 points per game. The Crusaders decided to run with them, turning the basketball game into more of a track meet.
"I think it shows that we're a little bit deceiving by our looks with how fast we can play, and under control at the same time," Buffington said. "That's who we are. We have to play fast."
During his hot streak, Oxford left Harrison wide open in front of the Helias bench for a look at a three. He knocked it down, giving the Crusaders their biggest lead of the game at 79-64 with 2:55 to play.
"As the ball was coming to Landon, and I don't know if he'll remember this, but I said, 'Knock it down,'" Buffington said. "And he drilled. He was feeling it."
Harrison worked his way to the free-throw line 12 times in the final two minutes, pushing his point total to 42 points with 1:17 to play. It appeared as if he would only tie Classic record of 42 points, set by Parkview's Matt Miller in 1996.
However, Harrison attempted a breakaway layup and was fouled at the buzzer. At first, it looked as if the foul wouldn't count, but after the teams shook hands, the officials awarded Harrison two foul shots.
He knocked down both shots, claiming the record with 44 points.
"I didn't even know the game was over because it was so loud," Harrison said. "I was trying to run out and not get fouled so we could run out the clock."
Harrison was 9-of-13 from the field after the break and made 8-of-10 free throws down the stretch.
"I've never had a kid score 44 points in my coaching career," Buffington said. "I don't know if I ever played with somebody who scored in the 40s. But if it's going to happen to one kid, it should happen to Landon Harrison, because he's the most driven player I've ever coached."
Harrison's record night overshadowed a 40-point performance by Joiner, Oxford's senior star who has signed with NCAA Division I Cal State Bakersfield. Joiner had 26 points by halftime on 11-of-14 shooting, but the Crusaders held him scoreless during the third quarter.
"He's a heck of a player," Buffington said of Joiner. "Our goal with him coming into tonight was, if he was going to get his average, make sure it's on that many shots. If he's averaging 37 (points), make sure he shoots it 37 times."
Terry Williams added 25 points for Oxford, scoring 20 points in the second half as Joiner struggled shooting. J.J. Pegues added 11 points for the Chargers.
Oxford held a 25-24 lead at the end of the first quarter but never led Helias by more than five points in the first half.
The Crusaders had four players score in double figures. Nick Brandt finished with 16 points, making four 3-pointers, while Dalton Weaver and Marcus Anthony each scored 12 points.
"This was a team win for us," Buffington said. "We had three other guys in double figures. Everybody played their role tonight. Landon just had a historic night."
Oxford (8-4) will play Raytown South in the consolation semifinals at 4 p.m. today. Helias (6-0) advances to the semifinals at will face Whitehaven (Tenn.) at 7 p.m. today.
"We told our guys before the game started that this was a playoff atmosphere," Buffington said. "Ready or not, you're in the playoffs this week, three days in a row."