Arts & Sciences boys’ basketball coach Zach Dragoo was a little choked up after watching senior guard Chase Pride make the winning free throw with 0.1 second left in overtime of Friday’s 77-76 thrilling home victory against Boyd Buchanan.
Despite Caden Johnson’s 33rd point putting the visiting Buccaneers up by one with 0.7 second left, Pride’s instincts allowed him to draw a foul on his three-quarter-court heave just before the final buzzer.
Pride finished a memorable night with 24 points for the Patriots.
“I have known him since he was a baby,” Dragoo said. “I held Chase in my arms. To see him now as a leader of this team means the world. He is the one the guys I look to. I told him these are the moments you work so hard for. He deserved the opportunity. He hyperfocused and tuned everything else out and made two huge free throws.”
Pride was overjoyed for his team after the Patriots fought back from a 15-point first-half deficit.