Muckers win 1A state title

LAS VEGAS - Move over Hoosiers, here come the Muckers.

When the story of Mich McDowell's game-winning shot is told, the tale will likely grow taller as the years go by. It's destined to become an acrobatic, off-balance shot some day.

Actually McDowell's head fake and layup off the glass was one he could make in his sleep. But it was shot for the ages in a game for the ages.

McDowell's shot with 4.3 seconds left gave Virginia City a 63-61 win over Lake Mead on Saturday at Orleans Arena in the NIAA 1A State title game. It was Virginia City's first state title since 1986 and it also avoided an embarrassing sweep for the North.

If Virginia City hadn't have won, the North would have gone 0-for-8, failing to win a state title for the first time in boys and girls basketball since 1979-80.

But the Muckers wouldn't let that happen as they pulled off a sweep of their own. Virginia City also won the 1A State Academic title with a 3.70 team grade point average.

"It was big," said McDowell, who finished with seven points. "It was quite hard and quite easy."

The game-winning play was started by Kevin Lynch, who had to be close to a triple double with all the assists he had and the way he rebounded. Lynch penetrated the lane and dished the ball off to McDowell for the easiest - and the most difficult shot - he's ever made.

Virginia City still had to wait through a desperation three-point attempt by Michael Elles and a desperation put back shot on Elles miss before it could celebrate the title.

Elles and Lynch turned the game into their own personal playground at times as Elles hit seven three-pointers on his way to scoring 36 points.

Virginia City also received lunch bucket efforts inside from Chad Sprong (15 points) and Sam Turman (13 points).

Turman looked unimposing in his glasses and suede tennis shoes, but he turned into a cross between Clark Kent and Elvis.

"I'm kind of tall and lerpy," said Turman, who went on to explain that meant "I'm tall and skinny and I've got long arms."

Turman also made the biggest shot of his life, a left-handed baby hook in the lane that almost rimmed out, but stayed in. The shot gave Virginia City a 61-59 lead. Elles came back to make two free throws before McDowell's historic basket.

"I've been working on a lefty hook for a while," Turman said. "I didn't even think about it."

Virginia City almost let the game slip away as the Eagles rallied from a 59-51 deficit to tie the game 59-59 after Elles hit back-to-back threes.

It was Elles who gave Lake Mead an 18-12 lead after one quarter, banking in his last three at the buzzer. Lake Mead led 20-12 early in the second quarter, but the Muckers answered with a 13-0 run to take a 25-20 lead. After Lake Mead closed to within 27-26, Lynch hit an NBA-range three to give Virginia City a 30-26 lead and the Muckers settled for a 34-33 halftime advantage.

After Lake Mead went up 37-36, Turman hit an NBA-range three to give the Muckers a 39-37 lead. Virginia City extended its lead to 48-40 on McDowell's three.

Lynch now has bragging rights over his older Curry, a former Virginia City star, who now plays for the University of Nevada. Now Curry can be known as "Kevin's bigger brother."

"I've been waiting for that all year," Kevin said.

Kevin and coach Hector Bucchianeri, talked about what the state title means to the Virginia City community.

"That's all you hear about up there," Kevin said. "It just feels great to actually come through."

Bucchianeri also played on a state title team at Virginia City in 1984. "It's awful special," he said. "It's just wonderful. It hasn't really sunk in, yet."