With 5-star sophomore Caleb Holt on the bench with five fouls in overtime, defending champion Buckhorn needed another hero.

It found one in Fred Derrick.

The junior guard gave the top-ranked Bucks the lead for good with a high-arching layup and then stole the ball from Mountain Brook’s Carson Romero in the final seconds, preserving a dramatic 52-51 victory in the Class 6A state championship on Saturday at Legacy Arena.

“No team deserved to lose that game,” Buckhorn coach Patrick Harding said.

The Bucks (29-5) thought – even without Holt – they had the game won in regulation. In a 45-45 tie, Deven Chapman appeared to tip in the game-winner as time ran out. However, officials went to instant replay and determined the ball left Chapman’s hands just seconds too late.

“I saw the red light go off,” Mountain Brook coach Tyler Davis said. “Ty (Davis) thought he made it. I just said, ‘Look guys, if he did, they will give us the red map and give them the blue. If not, we have to prepare for overtime, and it’s a four-minute game.’”

National Federation rules allow officials to consult replay only in championship play at the buzzer.

“The biggest thing is they were so excited. They thought they had won the game on a buzzer-beater,” Harding said about his approach heading into overtime. “I was trying to get them settle down. Even without Caleb, we were playing defensively in a way that was bothering them. Fred is so good. He can create plays for himself and others. I was confident still but needed to get the guys settled down.”

The two teams exchanged the lead before Derrick’s layup gave Buckhorn a 51-50 edge with 27 seconds remaining. Missed free throws played a big role in the final seconds. Jeremiah Wilson and Ty Davis each made one of two and Chapman missed both of his, setting up the Spartans with the ball with 5.9 seconds left in a 52-50 game.

Davis grabbed the defensive rebound and tossed to Romero, who was heading down the right sideline. Derrick cut him off in the lane as he drove for a potential game-tying layup and cleanly stripped the ball. He took a few dribbles and threw the ball in the air as time ran out.

“I just saw the ball, and I had to get it,” he said.

The play sealed a repeat championship for the Bucks, who beat Mountain Brook in last year’s final. The Spartans, playing in the championship for the 10th time in 12 years, finished 27-8.

“I’m kind of speechless,” Tyler Davis said. “We had our opportunities in that game. I told our guys just now that a lot of plays make a difference in a game. You can’t say one was the difference in winning or losing. Before the game, I told them I needed them to be fearless competitors for 32 minutes and, at the end of the day, we will let the chips fall where they may. They gave me 36 minutes.”

The Bucks won despite not getting a typical Holt game. The 6-foot-6 sophomore, who scored 37 in the semifinal win over Helena, was hampered throughout by an apparent leg injury suffered in the first half. He eventually fouled out with 45 seconds left in regulation, finishing with 16 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

“They have multiple guys who are probably going to play at the next level,” Davis said. “He’s (Davis) not playing with four donks out there. He’s playing with guys who are state championship players. Fred made some amazing plays down the stretch. Jeremiah is going to be a college player. There was no celebration on our part when he went out because we know they are a championship team.”

Star of the Game: Holt was named MVP, but even he knew his buddy was the star of the game. Derrick hit 8-of-10 free throws and finished with 19 points, 4 steals, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.

Both were named to the all-tournament team. However, when Holt’s name was called for the MVP, he called Derrick up with him and ultimately gave him the MVP award.

“Without Fred, we wouldn’t have won the game,” Holt said.

Stat game: Buckhorn – Wilson finished with 9 points. Mountain Brook – Ty Davis, a Creighton signee, had 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in his final game. Romero finished with 10 points.

By the numbers: Buckhorn outrebounded Mountain Brook 37-26. Both teams turned the ball over 14 times. Buckhorn was 14-of-42 from the field, 6-of-22 from 3 and 18-of-28 from the foul line. Mountain Brook was 15-of-42 from the field, 7-of-22 from 3 and 14-of-23 from the foul line.

Coachspeak:

“It’s a challenge to sound intelligent when I am this emotionally drained. I’m so proud of the kids. The kept fighting and fighting. They had a lot of things go wrong. Caleb was dinged up. We were in all kinds of foul trouble. But we hung together. If ever there was a season were kids learned a life lesson, we did that this season.” – Harding.

They said it:

“I was outcoached. They changed defenses and kept us off balance most of the game. I’m proud of our guys who kept fighting.” – Harding.

“I hate to sit. I knew I played bad. I’m just happy we won as a team. Fred clutched up at the end. Great team win.” – Holt.

“It’s been an amazing journey being able to grow up with these guys. They will always be my best friends. This guy right here (his father, Tyler Davis) is an amazing coach. We don’t have move-ins. Not a single one. For us to play in 10 of the last 12 is an amazing thing.” – Ty Davis.