SOMERSET — The 12th Region boys' basketball finals came down to the final possession Tuesday night at Pulaski County.
Jarrod Polson made one of two free throws with 23 seconds left to give West Jessamine the cushion it would need in a 51-48 victory over Mercer County.
With about 10 seconds left, Austin Sagraves launched a three-point try that hit off the iron. The Titans got the rebound but, with no room to shoot, Sagraves' off-balance, deflected three just ahead of the final horn never had a chance.
The Colts (26-7) will take on 3rd Region champ Muhlenberg County in the first round of the Sweet Sixteen, March 18 at noon, in Lexington.
"It's a big honor for us," said David Elliott, who grabbed the final deflected shot for West Jessamine, which is moving on to the Sweet Sixteen for a second straight year. "It's amazing how it feels. It's incredible.
"We've got a good chance (at state). The slipper's fitting right now. I hope it fits all the way through."
West Jessamine, which has won its last seven games and nine of 10, was carried by senior guard Polson. The tourney co-MVP finished with 31 points, four rebounds and five assists.
"We didn't really hit our free throws that well, and we didn't play that well," Polson said. "We just found a way to win, and that's what we've done all year."
Mercer County (22-10) split a pair of regular-season games against the Colts, then fell in the 46th District finals, 69-64 in overtime.
The Titans never led Tuesday but came oh-so-close.
Trailing by nine points at the half and four points through three quarters, Mercer pulled to within 47-46 when Mathew Honchel sank a three-pointer with 4:07 left.
West Jessamine missed its next four field-goal attempts, plus the front ends of two one-and-ones.
Four Titans took shots that would have put Mercer ahead. All missed
Polson converted a three-point play with 59 seconds left for a 50-46 lead, but Jamel Taylor answered with a two-pointer for Mercer.
On the ensuing inbounds play, West's Gus Sherrow lost the ball. He scrambled to the floor to regain possession and call time out at :35.2.
The Colts also maintained possession nine seconds later when the ball was deflected out of bounds. Three more seconds ran off before Polson went to the free-throw line.
"We just didn't get any breaks," Mercer Coach Nelson Cundiff said. "That was a jump ball (when Sherrow went to the floor). ... I thought the ball went out of bounds off of them over there.
"But they're a champion, and it takes lucky breaks to get to the state tournament. I'm proud of my kids. I'm proud of my community. It hurts. It hurts really bad."
Kasey McRay led the Titans with 16 points. Sagraves scored 11.
Besides Polson, West Jessamine got seven points from Dylan Pohl, coming on three consecutive third-quarter possessions.
"We've got guys who just needed to step up and make plays when teams (rally)," Colts Coach Damon Kelley said. "We made just enough. It got a little sketchy there, but we were able to hold on."
MERCER COUNTY (22-10) — McRay 16, Lee 2, Cinnamon 3, J.Taylor , L.Compton 0, Sagraves 11, Honchel 6. Mayes 4. Totals 19 1-3 48.
WEST JESSAMINE (26-7) — Mefford 3, Polson 31, Elliott 2, Sherrow 4, Pohl 7, Strait 2, Bartholomew 2. Totals 20 5-8 51.
Mercer County 8 7 22 11—48
West Jessamine 12 12 17 10—51
All-Tournament — Kyle Hopper (Wayne Co.); Kyle Jeffries (Casey Co.); Tevin Raines (Danville); Zach Roark (McCreary Central); Jacob Bodner and Cory Jones (Boyle Co.); Hunter Jenkins and Zach Eastham (Pulaski Co.); Clay Cinnamon, Kasey McRay and Aaron Lee (Mercer Co.); Gus Sherrow, David Elliott, Dylan Pohl and Jarrod Polson (West Jessamine). Tourney MVPs — McRay and Polson. Game MVPs — Austin Sagraves (Mercer) and Dylan Pohl (Jessamine).
