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O'Rourke's Shot Lifts Tornadoes

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By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: March 5, 2009

LAKELAND - As soon as the ball left his hands, Clearwater senior guard Regan O'Rourke knew the shot was going in.

With 1.1 seconds remaining in the Class 5A boys basketball state semifinals, O'Rourke banked in a floater from just outside the free-throw line to give Clearwater a 44-43 victory against Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer, putting the Tornadoes (28-3) in the 5A state championship game against Gainesville on Friday at 7 p.m.

With 5.1 seconds left, Clearwater inbounded the ball to O'Rourke at the top of the 3-point line. With a Dwyer defender in his path, the 6-foot-1 guard took two dribbles and left his feet for an off-balance two-handed floater, which sent the Clearwater bench and fan section into a frenzy.

O'Rourke ripped off his jersey and yelled at the top of his lungs, running toward the opposite end of the court as his teammates followed.

"We just ran our play, which broke down on us a little bit," said O'Rourke, who finished with nine points and five assists. "I just got it and tried to make a move to the basket and win the game for my team. It happened to go in and we're happy to go to the state championship now."

Dwyer went on a 6-0 run in the final minute of the game to take a 43-42 lead with 17.7 seconds left.

"Let's face it, Regan O'Rourke slashing to the hole is a good thing," first-year Clearwater coach Allen Carden said. "He just made a great move and a great shot."

Terroine Whittick led Dwyer with 15 points while Ramon Galloway added 13.

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 259-7851.

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