It was a game about a great comeback toward the end of the game and a dominate performance in overtime.

The Kingston Yellow Jackets defeated Community 75 to 64 this morning to advance to the Final Four of the TSSAA Class 2A boys state basketball championship. Kingston will face Jackson South Side tomorrow (Friday, March 19, 2021) at 4 p.m. central.

This was Kingston’s first appearance in the state final rounds in 30 years. The game was even more historic as junior guard Colby Raymer became the 5th family member dating back to the early 1960’s to compete in the tournament.

Community jumped out to a 16-13 lead at the end of the 1^st and extended their margin to 35 to 28 at halftime. The Vikings would be up by 10 points to finish the 3^rd ahead 47 to 37.

That is when Kingston had enough and really reached down to play their best basketball ever seen.

The Yellow Jackets battled back to come within 3 points of Community with 6 minutes left in regulation play.

Just over 3 minutes left, Kingston would be tied with the Vikings at 52 and seconds later the Yellow Jackets took the lead for just the second time in the game. Community would immediately answer to go ahead 58-57 with 1:47 left.

Raymer would hit a 2 pointer to put Kingston ahead 59 to 58 with 48 seconds. Brady Luttrell, who was instrumental in the overtime period, was fouled and made one of two free throws to extend the lead for Kingston 60-58 with just 14 seconds left in regulation.

As time expires, the Vikings would make a shot that tied the game at 60 and send it into overtime.

Kingston then put up the road block sign up on the road to the state title for Community.

The Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 4 point lead seconds after the 4 minute overtime period started to start their biggest lead of the game over the Vikings. With 1:40 left, the lead extended to 8 and Kingston held the Vikings scoreless to this point. The margin would grow to 11 points for Kingston with 64 seconds left but Community would hit a 3 pointer to reduce the lead to 8 with 59 seconds left. The Yellow Jackets would score again and won the game 75 to 64.

For Kingston, Colby Raymer was the lead scorer with 21 points. He was followed by Harper Neal with 15, Bryson Boles with 11. Wyatt Heidle, Nathan McNelley, and Brady Luttrell each scored 8 and Will Moore had 4 points for the Yellow Jackets.

Team wise, Kingston shot 20 of 59 from the court (33.9 percent), made 4 of 17 three point attempts (23.5 percent) and hit 31 of 41 free throws (75.6 percent).

Consider this stat from the game in this fantastic victory for Kingston…..Community led the game for just over 28 minutes while Kingston was ahead for five minutes exactly (the majority of it in overtime).

The score was tied 4 times and the lead changed just 6 times in the game.

Congratulations Kingston on a great game. We will see you in the Final Four tomorrow!