MVP quarterback’s last-second shot in OT sends Bowling Green to Sweet 16 quarterfinals

With about nine seconds left in overtime, Deuce Bailey ensured that this year’s state tournament will be one to remember for Bowling Green.

Bailey’s banked-in layup was the final difference-maker in a 52-51 victory over Adair County in the first game of the UK HealthCare Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16 state tournament in Rupp Arena.

The Purples will meet either Ashland Blazer or Calloway County, who were scheduled to play at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, in the quarterfinals on Friday morning.

Bailey is accustomed to big-stage pressure. The 6-foot senior quarterbacked Bowling Green to the last three Class 5A football finals and took MVP honors after it won the last two. He’ll suit up for Missouri State, a former FCS program that’ll make its debut in the FBS ranks and Conference USA this fall.

“He’s going to play college football, but he’s a college basketball player — why wouldn’t I want the ball in his hands?” Purples head coach D.G. Sherrill said. “I’ve seen him make those plays for (years). He’s been here since he was an eighth-grader with me.”

Bowling Green (29-6) got the ball back with 31.9 seconds left in overtime, trailing 51-50 after Connor Loy hit a pair of free throws to put Adair County (30-6) in front. Bailey spent most of the afternoon guarding Loy, a 3,000-point career scorer who was held about six points below his season average; he finished with 14 points on 5-for-16 shooting.

Out of a timeout, Braylon Banks dribbled out some clock before driving into the paint. He dished the ball to Bailey in the left corner, who dribbled to the wing before faking out his defender, getting into the paint himself to hit the game-winner over Loy underneath the basket.

“I saw a mismatch I liked and I just took the lane, and when I got into the lane everything just opened up,” Bailey said. “I had an open layup and I took it.”

As the clock wound down, Adair County’s Isaiah Cochran quickly inbounded to Dawson Gilbert, who got the ball past the large “UK” logo on Rupp Arena’s floor before heaving it toward the basket. Gilbert’s would-be-game-winner fell slightly wide left of the rim and into the hands of Loy with no time remaining.

Indians head coach Deron Breeze could have called a timeout after Bailey’s make to give his team a couple more seconds with which to work.

“We’ve been in that situation before where they score, and they know to just get out and play and push,” Breeze said. “ … Isaiah got it and he kinda looked toward Connor over there on the right side and they kind of angled him, he couldn’t throw it there. I did have (a timeout), but it’s hard to get a good shot right there.”

Loy almost ended the game in regulation. Bowling Green led most of the second half, going up by 10 points early in the fourth quarter, before a 12-4 spurt got Adair County within two points with 2:04 to play.

Banks hit two free throws with 1:48 left to push the Purples’ lead back to four, but the Indians answered with six straight — essentially all on the same possession. Brayton Coomer was successful on an and-one trip and Loy immediately after drew an offensive foul against Kadyn Carpenter that, after a brief consultation by officials, was ruled an intentional foul (Carpenter’s right elbow collided with Loy’s face, cutting the area under his left eye).

“Loy was not gonna quit,” Sherrill said. “You’d have to beat that kid and tie him down to get him to quit. We knew that on film.”

Loy made one of the two ensuing free throws and Cochran scored on the subsequent possession to give Adair County its first lead of the second half. Banks, who led Bowling Green with 16 points and four assists, responded with a layup.

Breeze called timeout with 3.5 seconds left in the fourth and, out of it, Loy quickly launched a 3-pointer from the wing that hit the front rim. Coomer was well-positioned for a put-back but it too drew front iron.

The teams combined to go 5-for-27 from beyond the arc. Adair made two in the second half while the Purples connected on three of their first six attempts before missing the last nine.

“This game was gonna be won 5 feet from the bucket,” Sherrill said. “It was a war.”

This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 3:39 PM.