WESSON — The Co-Lin Wolves almost had it. In a matter of 24seconds, the MACJC State Championship slipped away from theirgrasp.

Sophomore forward Greg Truvillion converted a 3-point play togive Co-Lin a 68-67 lead with 1:10 left in the 5-minute overtime.Holmes’ sophomore forward Dean Hadley tied the game with a freethrow with 24 seconds on the clock. Hadley came back with a layupto put the Bulldogs ahead 70-68 with 15 seconds left to play.

Bulldog Brandon Brunson nailed the first of two free throws with.03 seconds left as Holmes captured the state title by a finalscore of 71-68 over Co-Lin before a vocal, capacity crowd.

The Wolves had the ball taken away twice in the final 15 secondson an out-of-bounds call and a traveling call that gave the ballback to the Bulldogs each time.

The fans let the officials know their opinion on the calls asthe game finished.

“Both teams played really hard,” said Co-Lin men’s coach DennisSims after the game. “The team that made the plays in overtime won.We had our chances when we were up by 5 (points) and we turned theball over in spots.

“The game was tied and we had our chances,” added Sims.

Before the presentation of the first and second place trophies,an NBA- inspired incident took place.

Worthy, a 6-4, 240-pound forward from Canton, took off hisshirt, stood on a chair and began calling down a heckler in thestands behind the Holmes’ bench. Worthy had to be restrained twice.First, by teammates who pushed him out onto the court. Second,Worthy ran back to the chairs again when Bulldog head coach ToddKimble finally got him back on the court and calmed down as Co-Linsecurity stood between the Holmes players and fans in thestands.

Finally, the trophies were handed out.

At the end of regulation, the teams were deadlocked at 58-all.With 15 seconds left in regulation play, Co-Lin’s Julius Blanksnailed a pair of free throws that tied the game and forced theOT.

Co-Lin (19-8) plays Monday at 6 p.m. against Miss. Delta in theRegion 23 Tournament being held at Mississippi College in Clinton.Holmes improved to 21-6 and also plays Monday.

The Bulldogs led the Wolves most of the first half, taking a36-31 lead into the dressing room at halftime. In the second half,the teams exchanged leads several times before Co-Lin forced thetie at the end of regulation.

Truvillion, a 6-8 Lansing, Mich. native, was the game-highscorer with 34 points and 8 rebounds. Christian Marshall followedwith 9 points and 9 rebounds for the Wolves.

Directing Holmes with 22 points apiece were Worthy and JeremyCable. Hadley followed with 14 points.