High school defeats crosstown rival with buzzer-beating fadeaway jumper

St. Charles East and St. Charles North, two high school teams in Illinois ended their rivalry match with a wild buzzer beater. With 3.3 seconds left, there was a long inbound pass from a North player that went awry immediately when it was deflected by East’s Cody Mitchell. The ball found its way into teammate Justin Hardy’s hands, who quickly executed a game-winning fadeaway 3. Watching the video over and over again, it’s a little mind-blowing how fast Hardy grabbed the ball went for the jumper.

Speaking to the Daily Herald, Hardy explained the quick jumper:

“The last thing coach (Patrick Woods) said out of the huddle was, ‘we steal and shoot it if it’s loose,’ “ said Hardy, who was guarding the inbounds pass. “I told myself before the play that as soon as it gets inbounded, I’m turning around and sprinting to half-court.

”It ended up loose by the volleyball line. I thought I had time -- thankfully I did -- and I put it up.”

According to the Daily Herald, this was the third consecutive year East defeated North with a buzzer-beater, one of which was scored by Hardy:

The shot brought back memories of Hardy’s catch-and-shoot 3-pointer just inside half-court during the Saints’ 59-58 victory over the North Stars in the title game of East’s 2016 Thanksgiving tournament.

The previous season, East edged North 46-45 on J.T. Ford’s buzzer beater.

Seeing this highlight is a reminder that it’s Buzzer Beater SZN™ again in high school and college basketball, and it feels so good to have it back.

(h/t Deadspin & Daily Herald)