Nice pass? Eargle saves Harding

Raiders stayed undefeated with a last-second victory over Zanesville.

By JOE SCALZO

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

COLUMBUS — One of the ugliest shots of Desmar Jackson’s career turned out to be one of his prettiest passes.

With the game tied at 58 and his team trying to avoid a fourth-quarter collapse at Saturday’s National City Classic, the Warren Harding junior drove up the court, dribbled left off a screen by teammate Chris Henderson and, with less than five seconds left, air-balled a fadeaway 3-pointer with a hand in his face.

“I didn’t get a good shot off,” Jackson said later.

Fortunately for him, senior Damian Eargle caught the ball and banked in the game-winner to lift the fourth-ranked Raiders (10-0) to a 60-58 victory against previously undefeated Zanesville (10-1) in a matchup of top Division I teams at the Schottenstein Center at Ohio State.

“I just tried to position myself inside,” Eargle said. “[Jackson] usually does a good job of getting a good shot. I’m just glad I was able to get it.”

The shot brought back memories of Dereck Whittenburg’s air ball that led to Lorenzo Charles’ game-winning dunk in North Carolina State’s 1983 victory over Houston in the NCAA championship.

“Knowing Desmar, he’ll say it was a pass,” Harding coach Steve Arnold said.

“No, it was a bad shot,” admitted Jackson.

Eargle’s game-winner saved the Raiders from a potentially demoralizing defeat. After the two teams battled back and forth through the first three quarters, Harding broke off a 12-1 run midway through the fourth quarter to take a 58-46 lead with less than three minutes left.

But the seventh-ranked Blue Devils picked up their defensive pressure and Harding got sloppy with the ball down the stretch, missing two shots and committing three turnovers as Zanesville answered with a 12-0 run to tie the game. After Joe Prati hit two free throws with 12.5 seconds left to tie it at 58, Arnold opted not to use his last timeout.

“We didn’t want them to set up their defense,” he said.

Arnold called a “four-low,” which would allow Jackson to create his shot — preferably a mid-range jumper off the dribble — as his teammates crashed the boards. The first part didn’t work, but the second part did.

“I was just happy it was tied,” Eargle said. “A win is a lot better than overtime.”

Jackson’s miscue was one of the few blemishes on an otherwise terrific game. He came off the bench to score 21 points in 25 minutes, adding seven rebounds, five assists and four steals to earn team MVP honors. He did have nine turnovers, but he was clearly the key to Harding’s win.

“I just love to play in big games,” he said.

Eargle, a North Carolina-Greensboro recruit who battled foul trouble all game, added 12 points, five blocks and seven rebounds and junior guard Sheldon Brogdon had 19 points.

Prati finished with 17 points and seven rebounds to earn team MVP for Zanesville, while Logan Aronhalt had 18 points and Wheeling Jesuit recruit Cedric Harris added 11 points and four steals despite foul trouble.

Afterward, Zanesville coach Scott Aronhalt said he was happy with his team’s effort — particularly on defense — and felt the Blue Devils did a good job trying to box out the 6-foot-7 Eargle on the final play.

“If he wasn’t 8-foot-8. ...” he said, drawing laughs. “How long are his arms?”

The Raiders may have the talent to get back to Columbus in March, but they’ll have to play much better than they did Saturday. Harding committed 23 turnovers and 21 fouls, compared to Zanesville’s 12 and 12.

“We did a horrible job taking care of the basketball and that allowed them to get back in the game,” Arnold said.

Still, it was a good experience, Arnold said.

“This was a highlight game for us not only because we were playing here in Columbus at the Schott,” Arnold said, “but because we knew Zanesville has a quality team and a quality program.”

Harding’s game was the first of five in the National City Classic, which pitted some of the state’s top teams from Division I and II.

scalzo@vindy.com