It's one thing to make a three-quarter-court buzzer-beater with your natural hand.
Try swishing it with your off-hand. While you're in the eighth grade.
That's what Bearden Middle School eighth-grader Allan Biven did last week in a game versus West Valley Middle in Knoxville (Tenn.).
OK, to be clear, Biven pitches left-handed in baseball and flung it up that way, but he normally takes shots from less than 70 feet away with his right hand. Nevertheless, whichever way he shot, his make under duress shocked just about everyone, including head coach Ben Zorio.
"In 13 years of coaching middle school basketball, Allan's shot was the most improbable one I have seen made at this level," Zorio said.
Perhaps more improbable to Biven himself. "It was exciting and I was shocked," he said. "Everyone made it memorable for me."
Including the lad who threw him the pass — Condredege Holloway III — who then about passed out when the ball went through the hoop. Holloway put his hands on his head for a while, then gave his good friend a long embrace.
Holloway is the son of legendary Tennessee Volunteer quarterback by the same name who was the first African American starting quarterback in the SEC.
"One really awesome thing about his shot was that, due to where he shot it from, his teammates and I were able to see his reaction right away because he was almost in our huddle by the time the ball went through the net," Zorio said. "I gave him a high-five almost instantaneously after the ball went through the net."
Biven's family's reaction was even stronger.
"He shoots right-handed, but he pitches left handed, so I think he chose wisely when he let it fly lefty," said Allan's dad Russell. "We were all there: mom, younger brother and little sister were there as well, so it was fun for all of us."
The best part about the shot, Zorio said: "It could not have happened to a nicer kid. He is a terrific player and an outstanding student (4.0 GPA)."
Managing editor Colin Ward-Henninger contributed to this report.
