Last-second chaos sends New Albany past Bloomington North 63-61

New Albany survived a chaotic finish to beat Bloomington North 63-61, capped when Reece McKee’s layup with 1.3 seconds on the clock put the visitors ahead in a frantic final sequence. The game ended after referees restored time and the final second produced multiple failed inbound attempts and missed shots before the buzzer.

The closing minute began with Linedeman attacking the basket with 40 seconds left, "making his layups and drawing the foul," which left Bloomington North up by one and forcing New Albany to scramble defensively. Sophomore forward Corbin Crone answered with a 3-pointer that put New Albany up 61-59, and the account says "North responded with a putback from Washington to tie the game."

With the score tied, "With 1.3 on the clock, a layup from junior guard Reece McKee gave New Albany the upper hand." What followed was the sequence that defined the night: the recap describes a "frantic final second" that "produced two failed inbound sequences and missed shots" and notes officials "required referees to restore one second on the clock after an inbound sequence." The restored time and the inbound mishaps left the Cougars unable to convert in the final second, sealing the 63-61 result.

Individual production that appears in the game coverage includes a 24-point night for Derrick Cross Jr.; a photo caption shows "Derrick Cross Jr. collects two of his 24 points in the game." New Albany’s junior guard Reece McKee and sophomore forward Corbin Crone were tied to the decisive plays in the final minute, and the game narrative also references the Bulldogs growing a four-point lead twice in the fourth quarter before Bloomington North fought back to tie.

The story included a prominent recruiting subplot around New Albany sophomore forward Noah Washington. The account identifies Washington as "the class of 2028 four-star recruit" and describes fan reaction when "When Washington set foot on Tom McKinney Court, the class of 2028 four-star recruit was met with a loud, 'O-ver-rat-ed!' chant from the Bloomington North fans." The piece adds that "Those weren’t the schools that have made offers to New Albany sophomore forward Noah Washington—but they were the names on the jerseys worn by students in the 'The Cougar Den' on Friday night." The narrative concludes that "Washington had the last laugh over North, as New Albany defeated the Cougars 63–61 in a game that featured a back-and-forth battle throughout the second half."

The loss leaves Bloomington North at 14-7 as the Cougars head to Sectional play next week. The final-second clock restoration and the two failed inbound attempts will be the lasting images from a game that swung on a handful of plays in the closing minute.