Holleywood Ending: Richwoods star lifts Knights to sectional title in dramatic finish

Richwoods players and cheerleaders mob Amarion Smith-Holley after his free throws gave the Knights a Class 4A sectional semifinal win. Jonathan Michel/Clutch Sports Media

ROCK ISLAND — March is made for players like Richwoods’ Amarion Smith-Holley. 

On Tuesday night, Smith-Holley proved that he is indeed made for March. 

The Knights’ Division I-bound sophomore stepped to the free throw line in Tuesday’s Class 4A sectional semifinal against Normal Community with two zeros on the clock staring back at him. A wild final sequence featured him dumping off a pass to Kye Motteler on the block, a missed layup and a ball batted back out to the elbow.

Smith-Holley grabbed the rebound with 2.4 seconds left and dashed out to the arc, putting up what would have been a game-winning three. An off-balance shot just missed, but the sound of a whistle rose above the cacophony in Rock Island Fieldhouse as the buzzer sounded. 

Foul. 

Want to read more?

Subscribe to clutchsportsil.com to keep reading this exclusive post.

Subscribe Now