Last-second bucket dooms Benton in Class 4 semifinals

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KQTV) — The Class 4 boys basketball state semifinal came down to the last few seconds of the game and it was Clayton coming away victorious against Benton.

With the game tied at 52, Clayton's Matthew Hurst hit the go-ahead bucket with just seconds to go. Benton had a look at a shot, but Cardinal senior Lincoln Goodwin's attempt was just off the mark and Clayton came away with the 54-52.

The Cardinals led 28-25 at the half in the Class 4 State semifinal, but in the third quarter, Clayton outscored the Cardinals, 15-10, in the third to take a two-point lead, 40-38, to the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the game was tied at 48 with under four to play when Benton forward Mach Mayom knocked down a go-ahead bucket. On its next possession, Benton added to its lead on a Goodwin fast-break dunk to make it 52-48 with 3:02 to play.

However, the Cardinals would not score again and Clayton finished the game on a 6-0 run. The Greyhounds stole the ball with 9 seconds left and got the go-ahead bucket with 4 seconds left. Lincoln Goodwin's game tying shot banged off the right side of the back of the hoop and the Cardinals fall 54-52.

Goodwin led all scorers with 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting and 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Benton shot 44% from the field.

Clayton shot 50% from the field and 40% (6-15) from three.

"(Lincoln Goodwin) puts a lot on his shoulders, carries a lot of weight, to try to take the stress off of these guys here. These guys have done a great job at stepping up and helping him shoulder that load," said Benton head coach Jared Boone. "Also as as fellow seniors they've all grown up playing together their whole life. This is something that they really wanted to do together and so it's heartbreaking for them to not have a chance to play for a state championship."

It's just the second defeat all season for the Cardinals, the team drops to 29-2 and will now play Vashon Saturday morning at 10 am at Mizzou Arena in the Class 4 third-place game. A re-match of the state championship game last season.