Midcourt shot caught on tape wins an Instant Classic in Akron

They were down six with 28 seconds left in overtime. They trailed by seven with 48 seconds remaining in the second overtime.

And they prevailed via a buzzer-beater on a shot from beyond half-court that banked in by a kid named Mycle Shadie.



The Dragons from East in Akron, Ohio won a 100-97 game over Firestone (Akron) that they'll be talking about around here for years.



Long after the retirement of LeBron James, who won some pretty special games in town for St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio). Even "The King" couldn't have drawn up one quite like this.

But despite the stirring comebacks, the improbable shot and 30 points from Shadie, the 28 points, seven rebounds and seven steals from Davonte Brunson, 26 more by Brandon Townsend and a double-double from Sir Charles Travis, East coach Ross Fiorello wouldn't call it one of his team's greatest victories.

He's been coaching high school basketball more than 30 years.

"We gave up 97 points and I'm not pleased with that," he told us by phone today. "We're a defensive-minded team. We normally give up 45."

Fiorello didn't harp on the one negative very long. His team, after all, did fight back from deficits of 25-13, 47-33 and 62-58 after each quarter.

"If we're going to give up 97, I'm very pleased we put up 100. … I'm just a defensive-oriented coach. From a spectator's stand point, yes, definitely, that had to be one of the best games you'll ever see."



Shadie told Beacon Journal staff writer Michael Beaven: "I have never seen a game like this. I am just glad to be a part of it."

He didn't see much after he made it.

Shadie was mobbed by both teammates and spectators who stormed the court in this showdown of City Series rivals. East improved to 10-1 and 6-0 and Firestone, which got 27 points from Kevin Gladney and a combined 37 by Stefan Willis and Corbin Bates, dropped to 7-3 and 4-2.

It wasn't winning this midseason game that caused all the celebration, but how East persevered and Shadie punctuated. 

With Brunson fouled out and his team down by 7, Shadie made a four-point play (a 3-point bucket and free throw) to cut the lead to 97-94 with 41.7 seconds to play, then the 5-foot-9 senior guard converted a 3-point play with 10 seconds left to tie it at 97.

After a Firestone turnover under its own basket with 3.6 seconds remaining, and East out of timeouts, Shadie took the inbounds pass, weaved up the court and under some duress sent the 50-foot shot set sail from just beyond the midcourt stripe.



"I was just getting ready for the third overtime," Fiorello said.

Shadie told Beaven: "It felt good, but it is a half-court shot so you never know if it will go in. I just kept praying while it was in the air and it went in off the backboard."

Said Brunson: "I'm speechless. … It was incredible."

Fiorello, who coached NBA players Eric Snow and Gary Grant at McKinley (Canton), said Shadie and the 5-10 Brunson are both college players, even though both lack height. Brunson averages 24 points per game and Shadie is now right at 20 per outing.

There is no shot clock in Ohio.

Shadie is a throwback, according to his coach.



"He works hard," Fiorello said. "He's a good student and fine young man. This couldn't happen to a better kid."