If you followed the high school basketball state tournaments last week, you’ve probably heard about Union High guard Jordan Chatman’s full-court, buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the Class 4A state semifinals.
Watch the video. Be amazed. Watch it again.
Kudos to the cameraperson for following the shot.
There’s no fancy, trick editing. Not like this LeBron James Gatorade commercial.
I saw the shot. It really happened.
As amazing as the 86-footer was — a few media types measured it — it could have been much more.
The one-in-a-million shot could have sent the semifinal into overtime.
Here’s the story:
Moments before Chatman made the full-court shot, he drilled a basket from the top of the key with 1.3 seconds to go in the game. Video later revealed that it was a 3-pointer, but ,at the time, officials ruled it a 2-point shot.
Instead of the score being 52-49, it was 52-48.
It’s possible that Chatman’s full-court miracle could have sent the game into overtime.
Of course, it’s impossible to know because the game would have been sent on a new course.
Central Valley might have defended the possibility of a full-court, game-tying shot. Deyarmin might have made one of the two free throws. The possibilities are endless.
Ultimately, Chatman’s shot made the final score 52-51 and the Titans missed out on advancing to the finals for the second time in three seasons.
Union High coach Maco Hamilton didn’t dwell on the possibilities.
“At the end of the day,” he said, “we didn’t play well enough to win.”
I was there and saw it live. I hate the term “unbelieveable” but it was DIFFICULT to believe. He is an excellent ball player.