‘Heart over height’ for Grafton boys

The odds were stacked against them — in some cases by several inches — but that didn’t matter to the Grafton High School boys’ basketball team in a thriller at Plymouth last Friday.

Sophomore guard Michael McNabb Jr. scored eight of his team’s last nine points in the final harrowing 108 seconds to lead the No. 6-seeded Black Hawks to a 68-63 upset over the No. 3-seeded Panthers.

The second half featured nine ties, and no more than two points separated the teams for the final 16-plus minutes.

McNabb scored a game-high 30 points on 10-for-16 shooting and went 10-for-15 on free throws. He also grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds and made four steals.

“It feels amazing,” he said after the game  between high fives from a large fan contingent that made the trip north. “It feels good for the program, for the seniors for what they’ve done — it just feels really great to do it for them and for the team and the coaches.”

Freshman point guard Juan Guerrero Hernandez Jr. scored 19 points on 8-for-12 from the field, made all three of his free throws and grabbed six rebounds.

“It feels good, man. Another round in the playoffs, can’t send my seniors home with a loss,” he said.

Grafton, whose tallest player is senior Zach Brace at 6 feet, 5 inches, were regularly shorter than its opponents this year, and Friday’s task was formidable. Plymouth’s Jeb Nytes is 6-9, Jack Jacquat is 6-6, Jake Steinhardt is 6-5 and Mason Brill-Meerdink is 6-4.

The Hawks’ top offensive weapons — McNabb at 6-4 and Guerrero Hernandez at 6-2 — used high-level ball-handling skills and quickness to consistently knife their way into the lane around multiple defenders’ outstretched arms, often rolling the ball off their fingers to get it to the basket.

“We wanted to attack the paint. When you’re in the playoffs and on the road, you cannot rely on jump shots. Our guys did a great job of executing that part of the game plan and getting to the free throw line,” coach Damon James said.

“Heart over height,” Guerrero Hernandez said, “and energy, and just playing as a team and trusting. Trust outdid everything.”

Down the stretch, the game was in McNabb’s hands.

With 1 minute, 48 seconds left, he drove to the basket and gave the Hawks a 59-57 lead.

After Nytes hit two free throws, McNabb again scored inside, making it 61-59, then grabbed a defensive rebound, drove the lane and got fouled while making the shot, sending James, the bench and fans into hysterics.

But it was determined the foul wasn’t in the act of shooting. Grafton was in the bonus, and McNabb calmly drained both free throws to make it 63-59 with 49 seconds left.

Steinhardt hit two free throws to cut the margin to two. The Hawks broke the Panthers’ press and McNabb again scored inside to push it back to 65-61 with 27.7 seconds left.

The Panthers called a timeout, after which the Hawks forced a jump ball and had the possession arrow.

Bennett Hildebrand was fouled and made one of two free throws with 18 ticks left to make it 66-61.

Steinhardt was fouled in the back court and hit two more free throws. Then McNabb was quickly fouled and he hit two 15-footers with 16.7 seconds left that were the final points of the game.

The Panthers missed a shot in the final seconds, and the clock ticked down during a mad scramble for the rebound before they missed a second shot.

The Hawks yelled and hugged in jubilation after extending their season.

“It feels amazing. I’m speechless. It’s surreal. Once in a lifetime,” Brace said.

“It’s huge,” senior Johnathan Blaubach said. “We didn’t have the greatest season. We just wiped that all away, and we were excited for a new season in the playoffs.”

Grafton went 8-15 in the regular season, but pulled together for a 2-1 record in the playoffs, including playing for a regional championship for the second straight season with only one returning starter in McNabb.

“That meant a lot to win Friday in Plymouth,” James said. “I feel like we have a group that finally got it in terms of coming together.”

Steinhardt led a balanced Panther attack with 13 points. Jacquat had 11 points. Two Panthers had eight and a pair had seven. Nytes had 10 rebounds.

The game was tight for its entirety. Plymouth started fast and got out to a 6-0 lead. The Hawks battled back to take the lead, but the Panthers took it back and were up, 30-27, at halftime.

Brace fought hard inside before fouling out with two points and three rebounds.

“He did great things in his minutes,” James said.

Hildebrand had eight points, and Chase Norton had five.

Hawks roll over Milwaukee Madison

Grafton earned a trip to Plymouth after blowing out No. 11-seeded Milwaukee Madison at home, 98-59, on March 1.

McNabb had 30 points on 12-for-19 shooting, along with 15 rebounds. Guerrero Hernandez had 15 points on 7-for-10 shooting. Junior guard Jaiye Famakinwa had 10 points, and Hildebrand, Norton and freshman Tommy Lutz each had eight.

The Hawks were up, 49-29, at halftime.

Khalil Gordon and Willie Milan each had 12 points for the Knights.

The win stopped a six-game losing streak in which James said the team continued to develop.

Grafton’s season ends in Beaver Dam

One day after beating Plymouth, the Hawks couldn’t quite get past the No. 2-seeded Beaver Dam squad in a 77-64 loss.

McNabb had 24 points on 6-for-14 shooting, was 6-for-7 on free throws, and had 12 rebounds and four assists. Guerrero Hernandez had 18 points on 4-for-8 shooting and was 3-for-6 on three-pointers.

Hildebrand had eight points, Brace and senior Luke Norgord had five, and Famakinwa had four.

The Hawks were behind, 40-28, at halftime and committed 20 turnovers in the game.

“We gave it a run. I give credit to Beaver Dam. They’re a senior-laden team with experience, and it definitely showed,” James said.

It was the final game for Brace, Blaubach, Norgord and Hunter Schmitt.

Brace missed his sophomore season due to a knee injury and had a setback before coming back this year. Blaubach stepped into a bigger role after hardly playing last year.

“I thought they did some great things when they got in the game. All four of them are great human beings,” James said.

The Hawks finished 10-16 overall, 6-12 and in eighth place in the North Shore Conference.

Next year, McNabb and Guerrero Hernandez lead the Hawks’ returning players.

“Both of those guys — if they continue that pace from the last couple of games into next year and stay consistent — we’re in good hands,” James said.

“Best underclass backcourt in the state,” Guerrero Hernandez said.