Overbrook's Nic Johnson (5) drives towards the basket as Wildwood Catholic's Nahseer Ruiz (33) defends in the basketball game played in the second annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day showcase at Sterling High School in Somerdale, New Jersey on Monday, January 15, 2024. Collin Conway/D2 Sports Network
SOMERDALE - The Overbrook High School boys basketball team trailed by as much as 16 points and appeared destined for a loss in its latest outing.
Then Shaun Mills saved the day.
The senior heaved a Hail Mary as the buzzer sounded to tie the contest at 57-57 at the end of regulation. The Rams proceeded to outlast Wildwood Catholic, 67-59, in double overtime in the second annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day showcase at Sterling High School.
"I kind of felt like it would go in," Mills said. "After practice we just shoot around, I'll just throw up crazy shots in the gym trying to get them to go in."
Overbrook outscored Wildwood Catholic, 10-4, in the second overtime period to seal the win and overcome a deficit as large as 16 points midway through the fourth quarter. The Rams scored 26 points in the fourth to force overtime.
Mills scored a game-high 25 points. He knocked down four 3-pointers and sank seven free throws.
Each team scored four points in the first overtime period. Alex Daniel found Keishawn Russell for a wide open layup for the Crusaders to tie the game at 57-57 and force a second overtime.
Lamar Little finished with 15 points for the Rams and Nic Johnson also reached double figures with 11.
Daniel led Wildwood Catholic with 16 points while Charlie Dunner added 14. Every player that stepped onto the floor for the Crusaders recorded at least a point.
Overbrook's resilience showed in the fourth quarter and overtime.
"I didn't say much to them at all," Overbrook coach Donny Lang said. "They never checked out at all during any point in the game. I have to give all of the credit to my players for staying in the game even when it looked like it was over."