GRAY — Upset-minded Richmond Hill knew it would have to do its best to contain Jones County’s 6-foot-9 center Jarquez Smith in order to have a chance against the Greyhounds on Wednesday night.
Smith got his points, but red-hot Wildcat shooting guard Jeremiah Hill scored more, and Nick Fitzgerald knocked down a game-winning basket with 9 seconds left to help Richmond Hill stun Jones County 63-61 in the first round of the GHSA Class AAAAA playoffs.
After blowing a 12-point lead late in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats (12-16) — the third seed from Region 3 — found themselves down 61-57 with 41 seconds left against the No. 2 team from Region 2.
They weren’t rattled.
Hill, who finished with a game-high 37 points, knocked down a trey with 29 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 61-60. Smith then threw the inbounds pass away, giving the Wildcats the ball back.
Richmond Hill took its time and got the ball inside to Fitzgerald, who put it up and was awarded the basket on a goaltending by Smith to put the Wildcats up 62-61 with 9 seconds to go.
Ian Chandler sealed it for Richmond Hill, stealing a pass at halfcourt and knocking down a free throw after being fouled. His second shot missed, and the Greyhounds called timeout with 2.5 seconds left. Smith got it to Brandon Wimberly, but his desperation heave was off the mark, giving the Wildcats the win.
“That’s our kids,” Richmond Hill coach Bill Henderson said with a mix of excitement and relief afterward. “They’ve got in them what it takes to win, and no matter what adversity they face, they feel like they’re never out of the game.”
The Wildcats will travel to Region 1 top seed Northside-Columbus on Saturday for the Sweet 16.
“We’re going to keep going out there, believing we can win,” Henderson said. “This bunch of guys isn’t going to back down.”
Richmond Hill fell behind early 13-6 but continued to match the Greyhounds (19-10) nearly shot for shot. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Hill knotted the game at 22 midway through the second period. The Wildcats grabbed the lead when Fitzgerald blocked a pass and dished it to Kameron Myers, who fed Hill for the easy basket.
Doug West’s short jumper with 32 seconds left in the half tied the game at 28 at the break.
“Their defense got us a little bit there in the first quarter,” Henderson said. “We weren’t expecting them to keep jumping our guards, but they did and were able to create some turnovers and points out of it. But once we settled down and got our footing, we were able to start executing and knocking down some shots.”
Both teams exchanged buckets to start the third quarter with Smith’s 3 putting the Greyhounds up 34-30. The Wildcats responded with a 7-0 sprint, including a three-point play by Hill to give them the lead. But Smith evened it again at 37 with another bomb.
After that, the Wildcats, and Hill in particular, caught fire. Two baskets from the senior sandwiched a layup by Fitzgerald that gave Richmond Hill a 43-37 lead entering the final period.
A minute later, the lead had risen to 10 after Hill drilled two more from downtown.
“We know that Jeremiah is going to step up in big games for us,” Henderson said. “We know we can get the ball to him, and he’s going to make smart decisions, whether it’s dumping the ball off, or going in toward the basket, or pulling up and knocking down the jumper. And when he gets the hot hand, it’s hard to stop him.”
The Wildcats expanded their lead to 55-43 with 3:49 to go, but Jones County wouldn’t go away, embarking on an 18-2 scurry to go back ahead. A 3-pointer from freshman point guard Jerry Stephens made it 55-48. Just 40 seconds later, Stephens hit from long range again to make it 57-55 with 1:50 left. Domonique Collier then stole a pass and found Smith, who wound up with 22 points, for an easy lay-in and a tied game.
Hill went to the glass on the ensuing possession, but Smith batted the ball away, and the ball eventually wound up in the hands of Doug West, who knocked down a jumper to give the Greyhounds the lead. Fitzgerald missed on Richmond Hill’s next trip down the court, with Smith grabbing the board and Collier hitting both free throws after being fouled.
While Smith proved to be difficult, the Wildcats outrebounded the Greyhounds 33-22, which Henderson said was the big difference in the game.
“That was crucial. (Fitzgerald and Cayman Cardiff) did a real great job of guarding him and grabbing boards,” Henderson said. “We were able to keep Smith from getting inside on us too much. Overall, our defense played excellent. We put a little more pressure on their guards there in the second half and started forcing them to hurry shots.”
RICHMOND HILL (63)
Hill 37, Fitzgerald 14, Wilder 5, Myers 2, Cardiff 2, Irvin 2, Chandler 1.
JONES COUNTY (61)
Smith 22, Wimberly 13, Stephens 10, West 10, Collier 6.
Halftime—Tied at 28. Records—RH 12-16, Jones County 19-10.