McDermott nails buzzer-beating 3-pointer to lift Saints

CEDAR RAPIDS - The scenario is played out all the time on driveways and playgrounds. Down by two, 3.5 seconds left, launch a half-court shot for the victory.Cedar Rapids Xavier junior Adam McDermott lived that dream scenario last night against Cedar Rapids Jefferson.“I just had to get it off, put it up and luckily it went in,” McDermott said after his half-court buzzer beater off the glass lifted Class 3A No. 6 Xavier to a 36-35 home victory.With his team trailing 35-33 after a free throw by Jefferson's Brandon Wiederin, Xavier Coach Ryan Luehrsmann elected not to use his final timeout. McDermott snared the inbounds pass with 3.5 ticks left and weaved his way to midcourt, where three J-Hawk defenders awaited.“I kind of bobbled the ball,” McDermott said. “Those three guys, got through one, but just had to shoot it. Put it up, and it went in.”McDermott scored Xavier's final eight points and led all scorers with 13.“Simply a talented player that didn't want to lose making a play,” Luehrsmann said.The shot capped a furious comeback for Xavier (4-1, 1-1 MVC), which trailed 32-27 with 1:11 remaining. After a Calvin Winker free throw pulled the Saints within four, a McDermott steal and drive for a three-point play got Xavier within a point at 32-31 with 56.2 seconds left. The teams exchanged a pair of free throws before Wiederin stepped to the line.Jefferson (1-4, 0-3 MVC) was without leading scorer Jacob Olson for the second consecutive game when the senior declared himself unable to go after warm-ups with a sprained ankle. J-Hawk junior Tyler Konigsmark scored all 12 of his team-high points during the frantic fourth quarter.“I'm very confident in the character of our guys,” Jefferson Coach Stu Ordman said. “They're going to take this; they'll feel bad about it. But they'll come out, have two great practices and a really good game Friday night (at home against Waterloo West).”