TOLEDO, Ohio — For the first time since 2012, the Whitmer High School boys basketball team is heading to the state tournament.
The achievement is greatly in part to junior Napoleon Jemison, who scored one of the biggest baskets in Panthers history.
"This (memory) is the top, No. 1," Jemison said. "Sending my team to state."
He tipped in the game-winning basket as time expired in Whitmer's regional final against Garfield Heights on Saturday at the University of Toledo's Savage Arena.
"The play, we didn't execute the play very well," Jemison said. "It was supposed to be a slip screen to Makhi, so he had a wide-open layup. But Antione (West) had the shot, it was missed by Makhi, then put up by me.
"It was quick, had to get it off my hands fast," he said.
The celebration vibrated the walls of Savage Arena.
Jemison's quick movement not only gave Whitmer a regional championship, but it moved the Panthers one step closer to a state title.
"At first I was shocked it went in, then just celebrated with the team," Jemison said. "It felt great, (the) team was very supportive of that."
Jemison added that the job is not finished and that he and his team are seeking another special ending. One that involves hoisting the gold trophy.
"It's really just another game," he said. "Just gotta play hard, to get there and we're not done yet."
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