WIAA basketball: Jordan McCabe, Kaukauna edge Milwaukee Washington at the end

MADISON – Jordan McCabe broke Milwaukee Washington’s hearts Saturday.

The senior guard, the state's recently named Mr. Basketball, drove left in the waning seconds and finished a layup with his right hand with 4 seconds to play that was the difference in a 76-74 victory over the Purgolders in the WIAA Division 2 state championship game at the Kohl Center.

The bucket gave Kaukauna a come-from-behind win and its second state title in three seasons. The Galloping Ghosts (25-3) trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half and were down six points with 3 minutes left before mounting their last comeback.

McCabe flirted with a triple-double, posting 32 points on 10-for-33 shooting, dishing out 10 assists and grabbing nine rebounds. The West Virginia recruit also energized the Kaukauna faithful, sending them into a frenzy in the final 70 seconds with 2 threes.

As he ran down the clock before the game-winning basket, the place was nuts.

BOX SCORE:Kaukauna 76, Milwaukee Washington 74

WIAA STATE GLANCE:Results, game stories, box scores

"It's probably the weirdest moment in my entire life," he said. "It went silent like nobody was in the gym and it was just a folding chair like the one you're sitting in in front of me, and I came off an imaginary ball screen that I've been doing since I was 6. I didn't know what was going to happen, but I knew that ball was going to go in that hole."

Washington was left with 2.3 seconds after Purgolders coach Freddie Riley called timeout. Junior Johntae Martin 's hit junior Deontay Long with a pass just past half court and Riley took another timeout with 1.3 seconds left. 

There just wasn't enough time to get a good shot, though. Freshman forward Michael Foster's turnaround jumper from three-point range didn't draw iron.

"Mike Foster had to take a tough shot and that's a lot of pressure on a freshman," Riley said.

Senior guard Eric Carl added 16 points for Kaukauna on 6-for-7 shooting, including 4 of 5 from three-point range. Sophomore guard Keaton Ferris added four points, including two huge three-pointers to spark the comeback.

Foster finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds for Washington. Martin, a 6-3 wing, added 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Long led the team with 24 points and four assists and was the team's go-to player down the stretch. He accomplished that while being constantly booed by fans throughout the game.

Long pleaded guilty to being a party to an armed robbery that took place last summer and is awaiting sentencing. He played all season after surviving his punishment, per the district's athletic code, during his next sports season, which in this case was cross country.

Riley has applauded Long's behavior and school work in the months since the incident and he had his player's back Saturday.

"This kid is a champion," Riley said. "What he's been going through and managing to stay focused under the circumstances and trying to be there for his team, trying to represent the school right (and) the district right and trying to show he's a better person than what he exemplified last summer, it's tremendous how he came out and played in this tournament.

"I don't think a lot of kids under that kind of pressure would have the focus to perform the way he did to put his team in position to chase a state championship."

And Washington almost did it.

A 14-2 run in the first half gave it a 35-24 lead with 2:05 left before intermission. In the second half, Long scored 14 points

After back-to-back three-pointers from the corner by Ferris tied the game for Kaukauna, 68-68, Long attacked the basket, drew the foul and hit two free throws with 1:39 to play that gave his team a 70-68 edge. The next possession Foster hit one of two from the line to push the lead to three.

McCabe, however, came back with a three-pointer to tie the game. Long responded with a strong drive to the bucket that allowed Washington to reclaim the lead, 73-71. 

Another McCabe three gave Kaukauna a 74-73 edge with 48 seconds left. Long converted one of two from the line to tie the game and set the stage for the game's final moments.

It was a tough end for the Purgolders and motivation for the future.

"This is one of the best seasons I've had with Coach Riley and the players on my team," Martin said. "The only thing I'm worried about is getting back, getting better, coming back with Coach Riley and winning a state championship before I graduate."