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Thanks to a dramatic last-second shot from Morgan Arnold and block by Kenna’d Buie, the Shelby County Wildcats are bound for the Class 5A playoffs for the first time since 2020 and will play for the area title on Wednesday. (For the Reporter/Dawn Harrison)

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

NORTH SHELBY – With 9.1 seconds on the clock and the score tied at 41-41, Morgan Arnold had just one mission: get open.

The Shelby County Wildcats’ season was on the line in the area semifinals against the Central Volunteers out of Clay County, and with just one well-executed play, they could do the one thing that had eluded them all season: beat the Vols.

However, with the options in the backcourt unavailable, Kaydence Connell turned to Arnold cutting back to the 3-point arc to be the hero.

Arnold turned to face her tight defender, took two dribbles to the edge of the paint, made a jump-stop into the blue-colored wood on the Briarwood Christian School floor and pulled up for a shot. After dramatically hitting the front rim, the ball rolled in, and Arnold clapped her hands twice in celebration.

After the ensuing timeout, the Wildcats got a big stop on the other end from a Kenna’d Buie block, and they excitedly embraced one another to celebrate not just a 43-41 win on Monday, Feb. 3, but a spot in the Class 5A playoffs for the first time in five years.

Sporting its first winning record since that 2019-20 season, Shelby County will now head back to Briarwood to face the Lions on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. for the area championship ahead of a sub-regional game on Friday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m.

The start of the game didn’t see much offense, but Central took charge early with a 5-2 lead. Shelby County would then score five straight points to take its first lead at 7-5, but the team wouldn’t score for the final 3:42 of the first quarter.

The Vols hit a 3-pointer with just six seconds remaining to take an 8-7 lead into the second quarter and kick off a big 16-4 run that included four total 3-pointers. Once the hot streak ended, Central led 22-11 with 2:09 remaining in the half.

However, the Wildcats defense stepped up and held the Vols scoreless for the rest of the half which gave them a chance to capitalize on the offensive end. A basket from Saniya Floyd and a pair of Morgan Arnold free throws cut the deficit to 22-15 heading into the halftime break.

The Wildcats burst out of the gate with a quick 5-0 run capped by a Buie 3-pointer to make it a five-point game and force a Central timeout with 6:11 remaining in the third. The Vols immediately made a 3-pointer out of the huddle and held an eight-point lead for the next minute and a half.

Shelby County then scored two baskets in less than 30 seconds to cut the deficit to 30-26 and force another stoppage from Central.

Neither team had much offense in the final four minutes of the third, but a Vols basket with 15 seconds remaining threatened to put their lead at six heading into the fourth.

However, Buie had other plans, drawing contact on a deep 3-point heave with 0.6 seconds to go. She hit two of her three free throws to leave Central up 34-30 at the start of the final quarter of play.

The Vols hit another big 3-pointer just 1:50 into the fourth to put them up 37-32, but the Wildcats rallied from there. Powered by a strong defensive effort and great low post play, Shelby County went on a 9-0 run thanks to four points from Arnold and layups from Buie and Daleigh Griffin.

The Wildcats used that run to take a 41-37 lead with 2:39 left, leaving Central to regroup from the sudden momentum shift.

The Vols made another 3-pointer with 1:57 to go that put them down one, and after holding Shelby County scoreless, they worked their way to the free throw line with 51.9 seconds to go. Central made the first to tie the game at 41-41, but crucially, they missed the second shot.

The Wildcats eventually got the ball and worked their way down to midcourt before calling timeout with 9.2 seconds left, and that set up the game-winning inbounds play to Arnold.

Her pull-up shot inside the paint put Shelby County in front 43-41 and led to a celebration, but one that was slightly subdued knowing they needed to defend the last 5.1 seconds.

The Vols passed the ball out to the right side of the key and tried a 3-pointer for the win, but Buie came up with a big block to led the Wildcats exhale and celebrate as they booked their long-awaited return the Class 5A state playoffs.

It continues a dream season for Shelby County as it has now won more games in the 2024-25 season with 17 than the 11 they had in the previous four seasons combined.

Buie and Arnold each finished the game with a team-high 13 points while Griffin and Floyd scored six points each and Dixon earned five points.

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