LuHi boys hoops fall in Chipotle Nationals quarterfinals

A historic season has come to a somber close.

The Long Island Lutheran boys basketball team had won 21 of their previous 22 games entering April. The Crusaders claimed The Throne National Championship last Saturday. Last month, they ascended to No. 1 in the MaxPreps National Top 10 for the first time.

But the journey ended Thursday afternoon as No. 6 Prolific Prep (Napa, California) defeated No. 3 LuHi, 81-80, in overtime in the quarterfinals of the Chipotle Nationals at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, Indiana.

“They say seasons end one of two ways: tears of happiness or tears of pain,” LuHi coach John Buck said. “A lot of these guys, they poured their hearts into the season and they really wanted to win, as evidenced by our effort today.”

Junior guard Dylan Mingo and senior guard Kiyan Anthony each had 22 points for LuHi (24-7), the former scoring 17 in the fourth quarter and overtime. Junior center Omar Essam had 10 points and senior guard Kayden Mingo, Dylan’s older brother, had nine points, nine rebounds and six assists.

There were 11 ties and 15 lead changes. The Crusaders led for 17:48.

Darryn Peterson, the Naismith Player of the Year, had 28 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for Prolific Prep (35-5), which will meet No. 10 Dynamic Prep (Irving, Texas) in Friday’s semifinals.

Dylan Mingo’s three-point play gave LuHi a 75-72 edge with 2:38 left in overtime. Prolific Prep responded with an 8-0 run and led 80-75 with 1:03 remaining.

Dylan Mingo hit a layup to cut it to 80-77 with 49 seconds left in overtime, and LuHi had an ensuing defensive stop. Anthony missed a three with 2.8 seconds left.

Winters Grady’s free throw made it 81-77 with 1.1 seconds left in the extra session, and Dylan Mingo hit a buzzer-beating three from beyond half-court.

LuHi trailed 70-68 in the final seconds of regulation, but Dylan Mingo grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled with 0.3 seconds left. He drilled both free throws to tie it at 70 and send the game to overtime.

“When we lost in the EYBL championship [on March 8], Coach Buck – ever since then – had every one of the guards hit 100 free throws after practice,” Dylan Mingo said. “So I’ve been doing that plus more, so I feel like I was pretty ready for the moment. It was crazy, but I just thought back to practice and what I do every day.”

Dylan Mingo’s layup capped a 7-0 run to give LuHi a 68-67 lead with 40 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Peterson drilled a go-ahead three with eight seconds left in regulation before Mingo’s free throws.

“For our team this year, we have a lot of really good guys,” Buck said. “Out of all of them, Dylan was the one, who in the biggest moments, consistently was stepping up to make those winning plays.”

In an emotional locker room after the game, Buck shared a word about each player. Before the Crusaders departed for the final time, each person gave each other a hug.

“In the coming days, we’ll be able to reflect a little more on all the amazing memories and moments,” Buck said. “Although right now, it obviously hurts.”