Columbus — In the Bible, Judah is known for his lineage, tracing to David, Solomon, and Jesus, but also for his leadership and unwavering faith. On Friday night, Tree of Life sophomore Judah Korley found himself in a moment that demanded both. With the game tied and 2.5 seconds remaining, Korley stood at the free throw line, the outcome resting in his hands.
Judah never blinked, calmly hitting both shots. Moments later, Jesse Kanu delivered the finishing touch, swatting away Centerburg’s final attempt to send it to overtime, lifting Tree of Life to a hard-fought Division VI state playoff victory and punching the Trojans’ ticket to the next round.
Kanu’s block was the exclamation point on a night when Tree of Life didn’t take its first lead until 5:47 remained in the third quarter.
Centerburg disrupted any rhythm Tree of Life tried to establish, rolling out a 1-2-2 zone that smothered both the perimeter and the paint. The Trojans weren’t plagued by turnovers or mental mistakes, but they couldn’t buy a bucket early, shooting their way into a 16-6 hole over the first 13 minutes.
A key defensive emphasis was Centerburg’s lack of depth, as the Trojans looked to take advantage of a rotation that featured just six players. “They aren’t very deep. They use only five guys most of the time,” Coach Kyle Fisher noted. “If we can get into transition and score easy points, it disrupts their 1-2-2 zone.”
The Trojans eventually settled in, closing the first half on an 8-2 run to trim the deficit to four at the break. Another key emphasis for Tree of Life was shutting down Centerburg’s Bennett Hill, a player they had identified as a major threat. Hill managed six points in the first half but was held scoreless the rest of the way.
“He’s an outstanding basketball player, and I don’t think he was a factor,” Coach Fisher said. “RaKim did a fantastic job. We held him to six points when he normally averages 14 or 15 a game.”
The Trojans’ defensive effort kept them within reach, and that energy carried into the second half. Tree of Life finally broke through, taking its first lead with 5:47 left in the third quarter. From there, they rode momentum, outscoring Centerburg 21-11 in the period to build a six-point lead heading into the fourth 35-29.
However, the offensive struggles resurfaced early in the fourth quarter, allowing Centerburg to reclaim the lead at 36-35 with 5:39 left to play. But Tree of Life responded, regaining control and holding onto the lead down the stretch, keeping Centerburg at bay into the final minute.
The final 18.5 seconds became the defining block of the battle. Trailing 46-44, Centerburg suffered a major setback as Trevin Harris fouled out. Harris, who had been the offensive catalyst with 22 points and six rebounds, had kept Centerburg in the fight, but his exit left them without their go-to scorer in the game’s closing moments.
Centerburg wasn’t finished just yet. They marched down the floor and tied the game with 5.6 seconds left, keeping their hopes alive. However, a critical fifth foul with just 2.5 seconds remaining sent Judah to the free throw line, giving Tree of Life a chance to reclaim the lead in the final moments.
Judah’s first free throw bounced off the back iron and fell in. His second attempt, however, was a perfect swish. Coach Fisher praised his young player for stepping up when it counted.
“The kid is a sophomore and just has ice water in his veins,” he said. “He shoots around 80% from the line, so I was confident he was going to make at least one. Once he made the first one, I knew the second one was going in.”
Then came the final call for Jesse Kanu. On a night when his usual shots weren’t falling, Kanu had adapted, making his presence felt on the boards and defensively. But nothing was bigger than his final play, a moment that would define his impact on the game.
Centerburg inbounded with 2.5 seconds left and pushed the ball up the floor, but Bennett Hill’s final shot attempt was met with a powerful rejection by Kanu. It was the knockout blow Tree of Life had earned. Coach Fisher couldn’t hide his appreciation for Kanu’s impact, reflecting on what he had meant to the Trojans all year.
“All 20 wins this season, Jesse has had a hand in. He is a huge factor,” Fisher reflected. “He plays like a 6’5″ player and has over 55 blocks on the year. Without his rebounding and defense, we aren’t close.”
Another unsung hero in this win for Tree of Life was Senior Jacob Brown, who finished with 12 points on four threes. All of these points came in critical junctures of the second half, helping push Tree of Life over the top on their home floor and setting up another home game on Monday against Northmor.
“This will give us a lot of momentum for Northmor,” Fisher said. “They have one of the best players in the district and some great guards. It will be a battle of the guards, and we are just thankful to wear our white jerseys one more time this season.”
Tree of Life Christian hosts the Northmor Golden Knights on Monday at 7 PM in the Division VI district semifinals, with a berth to the district championship on the line.
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