By KENZIE WINSTEAD
Content Editor
SEYMOUR, Ind. — The Romeo Era is over, but the beat goes on for New Albany basketball.
With time winding down in a tied game, New Albany senior Derrick Stevenson took a left-handed slip pass from freshman Kaden Stanton and drilled a 3-pointer pointer from the left side just as the buzzer sounded, giving the Bulldogs a 39-36 win over No. 4-ranked Floyd Central 39-36 Friday night in the Seymour Sectional semifinals.
New Albany (18-6) now will face another rival, Jeffersonville (18-5), in Saturday night’s sectional final at 7:30. The Bulldogs will be going for their sixth straight sectional title.
New Albany coach Jim Shannon said Floyd Central — as the sectional favorite — had to endure a lot of pressure. “We’ve been in that situation,” he said. “It’s not always lollipops and rainbows. But I had a once-in-a-generation player who wouldn’t allow us to lose.”
As soon as it left his hand, Stevenson said he knew it was going in.
“I knew it was money,” he said. “That’s how it goes sometimes.”
Stevenson, who scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half, said it was his first ever game-winning shot.
Julien Hunter, one of New Albany’s best players who is sidelined with a broker leg, also said he knew it was in. “Derrick’s a big shot maker and a big shot taker,” Hunter said.
“I’m the biggest cheerleader right now,” Hunter said. “I’m losing my voice.”
Stevenson provided a bit of personal redemption after fouling Floyd Central’s Jake Heidbreder on a 3-point attempt with 8.6 second left.
Kenzie Winstead caught up with @NewAlbanyHoops’ Derrick Stevenson after his game-winning thriller: pic.twitter.com/BqqC4ZxSxV
— Matt Denison (@HoosierHills) March 2, 2019
Heidbreder hit all three free throws to tie the game.
Heidbreder and Cobie Barnes, an Indiana State signee, led the Highlanders (21-3) with 12 points each.
“We didn’t want Cobie going crazy on us,” Shannon said. “If you don’t put two or three guys on him, he’ll get 30 or 40. He’s as good as there is in the state of Indiana this year.”
Shannon said now he’s got to get his team grounded and ready for Jeff.
“A lot of things happened tonight,” Shannon said. “The stars were lined up and it was beautiful. Now I have to convince them (his players) they didn’t win the sectional. They think they won it. That’s not the case.”
Jeffersonville 75, Bedford North Lawrence 54: Point guard Jacob Jones, the engine who drives the Jeffersonville machine, poured in 21 points to lead the Red Devils past the Stars.
When Jones made his first shot, Jeff coach Joe Luce said he knew it was going to be a good night.
“(Jacob) is the key to our basketball team,” Luce said. “We’ve talked about it all year long. When he goes, we go. In all the five losses we’ve had, he’s scored four points or less.”
Jones got off to a sizzling start. He reeled off 13 points in the first quarter alone while hitting three from beyond the 3-point arc.
Jeff surged to a quick 25-12 lead after the first quarter and led 43-20 the half.
“We got off to a great start,” Luce said. “I thought it continued throughout the game.
“We were always the aggressor,” Luce said, “and it’s a big reason why we’ll be playing for a sectional championship tomorrow (Saturday) night.”
Luce said the his team just took “great shots . . . We shot the right shots.”
For the Red Devils, Darin Starks and Tre Coleman added 11 points each.
Trying to win their first sectional title since 2013, the Red Devils avenged a 67-61 loss to BNL on Jan. 25.
“That burned with the me the moment we walked off that floor,” Luce said of the loss at BNL. “I reminded them appropriately without overdoing it that we would see them again at some point. They played a good game to beat us.”
