LOVELAND — East’s Jamiko Verner practices half-court buzzer-beaters for 15 minutes each day in the relative quiet of his high school gym.
On Wednesday in front a packed house at the Budweiser Events Center under more taxing circumstances, Verner proved practice makes perfect with a game-winning half-court shot against Mullen that propelled the Angels into the Great 8 with a 51-49 thriller.
“I was going to be upset if I had to go home,” said Verner, who has two other buzzer-beaters this season.
The Angels (20-5), the top seed in the Glenn Wilson Region, were just 4.5 seconds from season’s end. Mullen was playing catch-up the entire fourth quarter and finally took the lead for the first time in the second half when Terrance Dent hit a 3-pointer from the corner to put the Mustangs (16-9) ahead 49-48.
“That’s the kind of stuff you see in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament,” said Dent, who had a game-high 17 points for Mullen. “I’m still shocked. Never in a million years did I think that was going to happen.”
What happened next will likely be aired on national highlight shows for days to come.
East coach Rudy Carey had planned not to take a timeout if Mullen scored, so with the clock running, the Angels inbounded to Verner, who was hounded by two Mustangs defenders.
Verner got just one step over the midcourt line with two defenders hanging on him, and let fly the game-winner.
“He’s made three of those this year,” Carey said, “none bigger than that.”
The officials, without the aid of the replay, convened at halfcourt to discuss whether the shot left Verner’s hand in time, and after 20 seconds they counted it.
It was a balanced attack for the Angels, who next play Rocky Mountain on Friday at the Denver Coliseum.
Mookie Gilbert lead East with 13 points off the bench. Koree Ross scored 12, and Verner’s heroics capped a 10-point night.
