Indians' season ends in heartbreaking overtime loss
JACKSONVILLE -- A crazy finish ended the Pinson Valley High School boys basketball team’s season on Tuesday afternoon, as the Indians fell to Huffman 76-74 in the Class 6A Northeast Regional final at Jacksonville State University’s Pete Mathews Coliseum..
Pinson Valley came back from down 55-47 after three quarters to gain the lead late in the fourth. A 3-pointer landed for Huffman’s James Burgess as time expired to send the game to overtime. The Indians hit some clutch shots down the stretch in overtime, but the Indians attempted to call timeout after they had already exhausted all of theirs, giving Huffman a set of technical free throws to go ahead in the final seconds.
Pinson Valley head coach Darrell Barber said his team fought not only all game, but all season to get to this point.
“I’m extremely proud of our guys for fighting back,” he said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that we would fight back.”
Senior Kam Woods had 34 points to lead the Indians before he fouled in the overtime period. Junior GaQuincy McKinstry added 17 points and eight rebounds.
Barber said, with tears in his eyes, how much Woods meant to this team and to himself.
“He’s like a son I’ve never had,” he said. “We’ve been together six or seven years. I’m extremely proud of what he’s done for himself. It was a pleasure coaching him and watching him come from a young boy into a young man. Just a loss of words. I love him with all my heart.”
Barber said Woods is one of the best players to come through Pinson Valley.
Woods returned the favor, saying Barber helped him grow as a basketball player and as a person.
“He got me where I’m at today,” he said. “I was good but I wasn't as good as I am [now]. I knew I would be great, but without him I probably wouldn’t be here right now.”
Pinson Valley and Huffman stayed even throughout most of the first half, with the teams exchanging the lead throughout the first half. Huffman held a 34-32 advantage at halftime.
The third quarter was not kind to the Indians. Huffman built a 15-point lead with 2:12 to go in the third quarter. Pinson Valley continued to fight, giving Huffman all it could handle in the fourth quarter, ultimately retaking the lead.
Pinson Valley carried a three-point lead with 11.2 seconds on the clock before Burgess buried a triple to tie the game and send it into overtime. Four of Pinson Valley’s starters carried four fouls into the overtime period and two of them fouled out in overtime.
Pinson Valley jumped out to a four-point lead in overtime, but Huffman tied the game with 41.2 seconds remaining. After holding for the final shot, Pinson Valley got trapped at half court and the attempted called timeout proved to be the difference.
Huffman hit one of the technical free throws to take the 75-74 lead and ultimately win 76-74.
Barber said his players are like his sons and that the Pinson Valley basketball team is a true family.
“I’m sure once all the dust settles, and I look back on the season and career these young men have had, it does make your job easier,” he said. “There’s a lot of things we do that you don’t see behind the scenes. Some people saying it’s your family is cliche, but we’re truly a family. We go over to my house, to church and do everything together. These guys are like my sons.”
Pinson Valley finishes the season with a 28-4 record, with three of those losses coming to Huffman.