Latin’s varsity boys basketball team won their first ever sectional championship on Friday night.

In the last minute of the game, senior Gavin Anderson hit a three-point shot, lifting Latin to a 43-42 lead over Christ the King. Christ the King had two opportunities to take the game before the final buzzer, but they missed both a three pointer and a putback, allowing the Romans to hold on for the victory in a thrilling finish.

At the conclusion of the game Latin fans and players went wild—the bleachers cleared as fans stormed the court. The crowd was exuberant and the energy was electric. Latin players, coaches, parents, and students united in celebration of this unprecedented win, and the opportunity to continue the season by advancing to super-sectionals.

Sophomore Wyatt Greenberg said, “[Gavin’s shot] was really crazy. I didn’t think that shot was going to go in.”

Gavin expressed similar disbelief, comparing his winning shot to a childhood fantasy. “It was a surreal experience, the type of thing I dreamed of as a kid,” Gavin said. “To be honest, it still doesn’t feel real. My teammates and I worked so hard to earn a moment like that, so it means the world.”

While they were able to win in the end, it was a close game throughout. The score was tied 21-21 at the half. Senior Nick Rotter played exceptionally well in the first half, scoring 14 points, while senior Ryan Mbouombouo stood out in the second half in terms of great offense and getting to the rim.

Coach DeNard had a lot of praise for his players. “We played a great game versus Christ the King,” he said. “It was a tight game the whole way. Nick Rotter came out hot, hitting two big three-pointers in a row. Ryan Mbouombouo was getting to the rim, finishing at will. Rogan McClendon and Griffen Snyder dominating on the defensive end. Brendan Berman had a huge spark off the bench coming in hitting threes. But it came down to one big play at the end of the game. We called a timeout and drew up an elevator play for Gavin Anderson, and he hit a big three-pointer over Christ the King’s star player.”

Latin will face off against Byron High School in the super-sectionals on Monday night. There are four super-sectional tournaments taking place across Illinois in Latin’s division, Class 2A. Those games will be in Springfield, Joliet, Sterling (Latin’s super-sectional venue), and Carbondale. The winners of the four super-sectional games will compete in the semifinals of the State Tournament on Thursday night, and the championship game is scheduled for Saturday.