2A BOYS: Last-second basket propels Agassi Prep boys past Lincoln County in 2A Southern League semifinal

After a raucous celebration in the locker room had ended and his players left, Agassi Prep boys basketball coach David Claerbaut bowed his head and sighed.

“It doesn’t get any wilder than this,” he said.

And DeShawn Battle made sure the Stars’ wild ride will continue.

Battle’s scoop shot in the final second lifted Agassi Prep to a 55-53 win over Lincoln County in the semifinals of the Class 2A Southern League tournament Friday at Desert Oasis.

Agassi Prep (15-10) clinched its first trip to the state tournament and will play Needles (Calif.) at 5 p.m. Saturday to determine who earns the No. 1 seed from the South.

“This is really huge for us,” said Battle, who had 25 points and three steals. “The first year we’re in (2A) is the first year we’re going to state.”

Quincy Brown had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Agassi Prep.

Dantley Walker scored 19 points and Cody Burgess 13 for Lincoln County (15-12).

Claerbaut said nothing was more key to the win than 6-foot-3-inch center James Turner’s defense on the 5-10 Walker in an unexpected matchup.

“It was real hard,” Turner said of defending Walker, who entered averaging 26.8 points per game. “We’ve been training all week for me to guard him.”

Walker’s 3-pointer from the corner gave the Lynx a 52-49 lead in the final two minutes.

Brown then scored on a floater in the lane and a jumper from the top of the key to give Agassi Prep a 53-52 lead in the final minute.

A free throw by Lincoln County guard Tyler Wadsworth tied the game at 53 — the third tie in the final four minutes.

That’s when Battle struck, driving to the hoop from the left wing before sinking the game-winning scoop shot.

“I knew he was going to get it off,” Turner said of Battle’s final shot. “I wasn’t worried. He’s a phenomenal basketball player. I knew he had it.”

After Battle’s go-ahead shot, time originally had expired, and several players reacted as if the game was over. Officials then met and concluded Lincoln County had called timeout with 0.5 seconds remaining.

“Knowing how good a shooter Dantley is, anything could have happened, so it was scary,” Battle said.

But the Lynx’s attempt at a game-winning 3-pointer from beyond halfcourt missed.

After winning its first state championship since 2000 last year, Lincoln County will have to sit out the state tournament this season.

“We were at the opposite end of the spectrum last year,” Lynx coach Mike Wood said. “That’s just how it goes.”

Lincoln County struggled with its second-leading scorer, versatile 6-5 forward Eric Rippetoe, in foul trouble for much of the game. The junior was pulled from the game after picking up his third foul early in the second quarter and eventually fouled out early in the fourth.

“He couldn’t really stay on the floor tonight,” Wood said of Rippetoe, who was limited to one point. “Every time he got out there, he picked up a foul. He couldn’t really stay in the game.”

Though the Lynx lose four seniors to graduation, they will return their top two scorers next season.

“Dantley had a tremendous year for us,” Wood said. “Obviously we’re excited to have him back, Eric Rippetoe also.”

Meanwhile, the Stars will play next week for a state championship only a year after they competed as an independent.

“These kids come from various parts of the city to a school that’s not even 10 years old,” said Claerbaut, in his first year as the Stars’ coach. “It’s a tremendous achievement for them under a new coach to integrate their style and personalities and to be able to make this run into a state tournament.

“I’m so proud of them.”

Needles (Calif.) 87, The Meadows 59 — Stevie Kidd poured in 38 points to help Needles race past The Meadows.

Darra Russell added 15 points for Needles (29-5), which hit 12 3-pointers and was 13-for-15 from the foul line.

“(Kidd) is a gifted player,” Needles coach Jeff Plank said. “He knows how to get to the rack. He knows how to adjust. He was just on fire.

“He’s a senior who’s been starting for me for four years, so he’s been looking forward to this.”

Garrett Gosse scored 14 points for The Meadows (12-15), which was tied at 17 after the first quarter but couldn’t keep up the pace. Austin Brown added 13 points and Gerard Martinez 11.

Though glad to reach state for the third time in four years, Plank said the Mustangs have a loftier goal in mind — winning their first state crown since 2002.

“We talked about it our first day of practice,” he said. “Getting to the state tournament is great and dandy, but we have other goals.”