03-03-2021
BY JACK BULLOCK
NORRIS CITY - How does one write about one of the best games you will see on a high school basketball court?

Not the way you would want to watch an Academy Award Winning movie.

For this we start at the end.

Both Norris City-Omaha-Enfield and Fairfield battled for 32 minutes but needed and additional four minutes to decide the outcome.

Or actually 3:59.

With the game deadlocked at 57-all in the waning seconds of overtime, Fairfield's Landon Zurliene drove into the lane near the foul line, stopped and spun into a jump-shot with one smooth motion.

His shot from near the foul line found a bunch of the rim but eventually the bottom of the net.

The Mules survived yet another close game with a 59-57 triumph at Norris City.

Coach Scott McElravy's club had to rally several times in the game against a Fighting Cardinals team that gave the Mules “everything they wanted and then some” on Wednesday night.

Zurliene, a 6-foot-4 senior swingman, delivered the game-winner as the final two of his 20 point night.

Senior's Brandon Lane and Noah McElravy chipped in 12 and 11 respectively in the win that gives the Mules a 12-0 record on the season.

“Big time hat's off to them (NCOE) and we knew they were fired up to play. Both teams being undefeated. Our kids were excited to play here. They had never been here before,” said Coach McElravy. “It's like Eldorado. I love the bowl shaped gyms in southern Illinois. The 50 fans that were here were loud. It made it more like it used to be.”

Norris City-Omaha-Enfield saw its undefeated record take it's first hit, as Coach Jordan Johnson's crew now sits a 7-1 on the season.

Six-foot-seven senior center Joe Melton and 5-foot-10 senior guard Ty Money led NCOE with 20 points apiece.

“I couldn't have asked for any more out of them. They 100 percent from the start. We knew what they (Fairfield) were and that's why we accepted the game. I like my guys and I'll go to war with anybody with them,” said Coach Johnson. “They are ranked for a reason and if maybe one thing goes our way it is a different outcome.”

In a game that saw nine lead changes and six scoring deadlocks, it was fitting that the game with end in heroic fashion for Fairfield once again in this season.

The Mules got a last second shot to beat Salem early in the season.

The NCOE fan base of 50 made a lot of noise to give the game a more postseason feel and the kids on both sides played like it was a regional championship contest.

With the stats being relatively even, there was the one stat that made things tough on the hosts.

The Fighting Cardinals, after committing just one turnover in the first quarter, ended up with 15 overall including a stretch in the second quarter that allowed the Mules to get up off of the canvass after an early onslaught by the 1A Cards.

NCOE went on its first run (8-0) to get a 10-6 lead, which forced a Fairfield timeout.

Money scored four of the points on two driving layups while CJ Richardson, a senior guard who netted seven points in the game, added a pair of free throws.

Money then fed sophomore teammate Joel Hortin on the next possession for a 10-6 lead when Coach McElravy had seen enough.

NCOE got a 3-pointer from Richardson, a free throw by Melton and a rebound bucket by senior Jacob Richerson as the Cardinals led 16-10 at the end of the first quarter.

Fairfield produced a better second quarter as they rallied for a lead at halftime.

After reserve NCOE sophomore guard Cord Tucker stepped off of the bench and nailed down a 3-pointer, Coach Johnson's club was up 21-14 with 5:29 left in the second quarter.

But the turnover bug hit the hosts as they coughed up five in the frame and what seemed like a game changing point, the Mules scored 12 consecutive points for a 26-21 advantage.

Zurliene, who had just one bucket in the first quarter, scored eight of the points in the 12-0 move.

He knocked down a pair of 3-point shots, one from the left win and another from the right wing.

Slotted in between those scores were a drives for points by senior's Noah McElravy and Brandon Lane.

Zurliene also got the basket on a drive to give Fairfield a 26-21 lead.

Perhaps a young club trying to a get a win in an important game might have folded up the tents when getting a 12-0 shoved at them.

However the NCOE senior vets came right back with a free throw by Money and a 3-pointer from sophomore Preston Long to make it 26-25 Fairfield at the half.

Counting the last four points of the half and three consecutive scores to start the second half, NCOE went on a 10-0 run.

Melton got going with a pair of nice shots near the goal and Money forced another turnover with a steal and fast break layup for a 31-26 lead.

Massie and McElravy added some points to stop the run by NCOE but 1-of-2 free throws and another drive to basket by Melton made it 34-30.

The back and forth contest continued with a 3-point bomb by McElravy and a Zurliene score, which gave Fairfield a brief 35-34 advantage.

At this point, Melton delivered points in a big hurry.

He added two free throws, a 3-pointer from the top of the circle and nailed down a nice post move where he spun around for a quick drive while being fouled.

The subsequent free throw gave Norris City-Omaha-Enfield a 42-37 lead.

Money added another drive for a score and Richerson took an assist from Long just before the buzzer for a 46-39 NCOE lead.

It was A-typical in this contest that the trailing team would once again rally.

Fairfield mounted a quick comeback to take back the lead to begin the fourth quarter.

Colin Massie, another senior guard for the Mules, drilled home a 3-pointer just seconds into the final frame.

Another transition drive by Zurliene and 2-of-4 free throws from Lane and senior Blake Pruitt (1-of-2 from each) gave the Mules back the lead 48-47 with 5:28 remaining in regulation.

McElravy nailed another 3-point shot but the Cardinals again had a rally in them.

Money scored again in transition and Melton once again produced points in the paint for NCOE.

Trailing 53-51, Money again got to the rim.

This senior vet drove again to the lane and tied the game with :40 remaining.

“This (performance) comes down to our seniors. They have been through all of this before, they have been in big game situations. They make the plays for me,” said Coach Johnson.

Coach McElravy had a plan in the final :32.9 left.

After the Mules' timeout, Fairfield ran their offense to get the ball to Zurliene.

With the clock ticking down Zurliene got the ball passed to him on the left wing.

However the senior took an extra step to secure the pass and was whistled for traveling with :07.3 left.

This turnover handed the Fighting Cardinals a chance to get the victory.

Unfortunately Coach Johnson's team didn't manage to get off of a shot as Long was called for traveling right at the buzzer as the two teams went to overtime to settle the issue.

NCOE got the first score of the overtime with Money back cutting to the basket on a pass from Melton.

“He (Ty Money) doesn't have an off switch. If he is on the floor he is going 100 percent. Melton alters a lot of shots, I would like to see a stat on how many he alters in a game,” said Coach Johnson. “Teams will just eventually stop coming into the lane. They both work well together. That back cut play they do, they have been doing that together since fifth grade. I can't say enough about my seniors. I'm going to miss them.”

Fairfield popped home two straight baskets on drives by Lane and Zurliene to take back the lead.

Another Money drive with 1:08 left produced this contest's final tie.

One of the things about sports, basketball especially, is that close decisions usually end up going to the team that has the ball last.

Fairfield wanted to work the ball to Zurliene the same way that they did in the final seconds of the fourth.

After a timeout with :07.5 remaining, the Mules got the ball to Zurliene as the clock headed to zero.

His shot just before the buzzer sent Fairfield into elation and the Cardinals into a stunned silence.

“He (Zurliene) has worked really hard at getting better. His dad is the football coach and he has hit the weights. When you are 6-3, 6-4 and can rise up over kids to get your shot it is an advantage,” said Coach McElravy.

Another old adage you and insert here.

It is very true that “it's a shame someone had to lose.”

Indeed.

More from the tail of the tape as Melton added five rebounds and four blocked shots in his remarkable performance.

Money produced also on the defensive end with four steals to go with

Long added eight rebounds to his three points.

Zurliene blocked a pair of shots for the Mules and grabbed six rebounds.

Lane McElravy

Fairfield has tough games coming up against Mount Carmel and Centralia.

NCOE will play Galatia on Friday before the GEC Tournament begins.

“These kids have the ability to stay calm. Even if we miss a free throw or an assignment on defense they manage to stay in the moment. We did just enough there in the end,” said McElravy.

The seniors on both teams met in grade school as eighth graders in the postseason.

Fairfield beat NCOE, 54-34 in the regional title game.

Fairfield would go on to win the Class M State title.

“It (the game) had been talked about. It was too bad because Norris City had a great eighth grade team and they had been going south (for regionals) for all of those years but that one time they had to go up north they had to play our guys,” said Coach McElravy. “We won the state that year (SIJHSAA) and I thought Norris City was better than the teams that we played at Rend Lake. Joe (Melton) and Landon know each other well playing together in AAU and Noah knows Joe also."

Fairfield (59) – McElravy 4 1 0-1 11, Lane 4 1 1-2 12, Massie 0 1 0-0 3. Zurliene 7 2 0-0 20. Taylor 0 0 0-0 0, Rodgers 0 0 4-5 4, Best 2 0 0-0 4, Robbins 1 0 0-0 2. 2FG-19, 3FG-5, FT-6-10, PF-13.
Norris City-Omaha-Enfield (57) – Tucker 0 1 0-0 3, Long 0 1 0-0 3, Money 9 0 2-5 20, Richardson 1 1 2-2 7, Hortin 1 0 0-0 2, Richerson 1 0 0-0 2, Melton 6 1 5-7 20.
2FG-18, 3FG-4, FT-9-14, PF-12.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.