news-record.com

GREENSBORO -- Four years removed from a 7-17 record in head coach Josh Thompson's first season, Bishop McGuinness will play for the 1-A state title Saturday after outlasting Cherryville 73-72 in an epic heartwrencher that lived up to its Hollywood-esque mascot matchup of Villains vs. Ironmen. Regional MVP Aaron Toomey's free throw with 3.8 seconds left was the game-winner.

"It's hard to believe we've come so far," said Thompson, who could finally lean back on the bench and fold his arms behind his head afterward. "That's a testament to the effort of our guys and all the work and sacrifice everyone has put in the program."

Toomey and fellow senior Ross Diachenko have likely done more for the program's renaissance then anyone, and they took center stage again Saturday at Fleming Gymnasium by combining for 54 points, including all but 11 of McGuinness' second-half output. Diachenko scored 29 in 30 minutes and was also named to the All-Regional Team along with center Jake McSwain, who had 13 and six rebounds.

"It's been night and day since my freshman year," said Diachenko, who let out a deep sigh as he entered the interview room. "This makes it that much more fun."

Less than 20 hours removed from a 34-point effort, Toomey picked up right where he left off, racking up four points, three rebounds and an assist in the game's first three minutes as Bishop built an 8-2 lead.

But the Ironmen, led by laser-quick junior point guard Darius Howell and springy sophomore wingman Terry Whisnant, started hitting from outside in a flurry and disrupting the McGuinness backcourt with pressure up top. McGuinness committed 10 first-quarter turnovers, which Cherryville converted into 12 points and a 15-12 edge after one.

That Howell was even on the floor was applause-worthy. Last Sunday, he discovered his father, Larry, dead on the couch at the house the two of them shared. Larry Howell was known to carry a towel on his shoulder everywhere he went, and the Cherryville cheering section waved "Howell's Towels" all game as a show of support.

Howell finished with 24 points and five assists, and Whisnant had 27 and nine rebounds.

"I tried to keep mind on the game instead of what went wrong with my father," Howell said. "But I'm not going to lie, I thought about it sometimes in the game, what would he say to me. I couldn't really let that get to me."

Bishop will face Weldon at 2:30 Saturday in the championship game at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh.

"That's the best feeling I've ever had as a coach," Thompson said. "Throughout the game, I'm already thinking about my 'it's a good season' speech, because every time we'd have some momentum, they would answer. I don't know that we deserved to win, but we snuck out."

Contact Tom Keller at 373-7034 or tom.keller @news-record.com

Cherryville (23-9) -- Terry Whisnant 27, Darius Howell 24, Thomas Bess 11, Brandon Heavner 6, Eric Crank 3, Tyler Johnson 1.

Bishop McGuinness (30-2) -- Ross Diachenko 29, Aaron Toomey 25, Jake McSwain 13, Steve Nealen 3, Matthew Paspy 3.