LaGrange Lyons Township snapped its 25-game Illinois high school basketball losing streak to crosstown rival Hinsdale Central on an epic buzzer-beater that is straight out of an early-2000s Disney Channel movie. The final sequence could not be more chaotic, and thus, electric!
Students stormed onto the court as soon as the final buzzer cemented the incredible rivalry win after the ball hung in the air for what felt like an eternity.
Now, hand up, I am not dialed-in on Illinois high school basketball so I did not see this shot when it happened on Feb. 18. Both teams have since played the final game of the regular season and will shift their focus to the playoffs, which are to begin later this week. I still think it is worth highlighting this moment, which brought me great nostalgia to movies like Full-Court Miracle and The Luck of the Irish. You really cannot script it any better.
Lyons Township, located in La Grange, is located approximately 4.5 miles from Hinsdale Central in the suburbs of Chicago. The former had defeated the latter in each of their last 25 matchups coming into last week. The Lions got one back on the Red Devils when junior guard Owen Carroll splashed a half-court shot at the buzzer.
Hinsdale hit a three-pointer with 26 seconds left to tie the game at 55. Lyons responded with a triple that rimmed out right back to Hinsdale. The Red Devils did the exact same.
A chaotic loose ball bounced back into the hands of Carroll, who fired up a half-court heave to give the Lions a three-point win right at the buzzer. It was tremendous scenes as soon as it fell.
Nothing More. pic.twitter.com/eb37zCSkAh
— Mark R. Kropke (@Mkrop71) February 19, 2025
Lyons Township’s play-by-play announcers had the perfect reaction and students stormed onto the court to celebrate the crosstown rivalry win. The only thing missing from the exhilarating final sequence was an intensifying orchestral score and a slow-motion zoom in on Carroll as the ball left his hands.
Rumor has it that the Mouse is already looking into acquiring rights to the film. Midwest high school snaps multi-year losing streak to biggest rival with heroic half-court heave. Coming to theaters soon!