There were about seven minutes left in the game when the Langley crowd began to chant “no points” at McLean’s junior phenom point guard Matias Prock, who scored 25 on the Saxons when the rivals last met two weeks prior.

The Saxon fans thought they had every reason to cheer. After all, they were currently up 10, had been up 14 at halftime, and dominated the rivalry for the past 10 matchups with McLean.

Prock and his team knew this round would be different. He nailed a three pointer. He took a steal all the way back for a layup. He and Aka were perfect in their free throws down the stretch. Down six heading to the fourth, the Highlanders had charged all the way back.

Langley’s own stud point guard, Colter Carlton, had led Langley’s three point charge all night. The Saxons just couldn’t miss. Finally, with just seconds remaining and the Highlanders clinging to a one point lead, the Saxons missed a huge three point shot that could have been game. Senior forward Sean Senft grabbed the rebound of the year and took a foul.

Suddenly, the Langley side was silent. The Highlander faithful roared.

Senft nailed his free throws. The Highlanders climbed to a three point lead.

Langley missed their desperation half court attempt at the buzzer. Seconds later, a sea of red flooded the court.

McLean had paid their dues time after time. We’ve made bad mistakes. We’ve had sand kicked in our face. But now we’ve come through for the biggest win the program has had since beating Madison in the district tournament in 2014. The rivalry losing streak was snapped. Matias Prock, scoreless for the better part of the game, had exploded for 15 points in the game’s final minutes to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

We are the champions.

While it was great to finally beat the arch-rival Saxons, the night was more about a win for the program, school and community than just beating a crosstown foe.

This one’s for you, MacTown. Let’s celebrate again in the district tournament.