MT. CARMEL, Ill. -- Wabash Valley had an answer for everything Southwestern Illinois threw at it.
Even after the Warriors lost both a 30-point scorer and main inside force to fouls with precious minutes left in what turned into a 50-minute slog.
It was not just next man up for WVC. It was next hero up.
The result? A thrilling 108-103 double-overtime victory over the Blue Storm on Saturday at Spencer Sports Center, their second straight GRAC win after an 0-3 start.
"What a difference a week makes," said Warrior head coach Isaac Wodajo. "Last Saturday, we lost a tough one to Lincoln Trail when we had our chances, then we go to Rend Lake and get a win on the road.
"Tonight, we just made big time plays at the end. I am super proud of the guys."
Wabash Valley improved to 8-4 (2-3 in GRAC) with the win. Southwestern fell to 8-4 and 2-2.
If it seemed daunting enough that the Warriors would enter crunch time without Gary Clay, who simply owned vast stretches of the game en route to a 30-point day, and Ksuan Casey, the 6-foot-9 transfer who gains more confidence underneath on a per-game basis, it was news to Jakobi Heady and Deshaun Nettles.
The two veterans simply took over from there.
"Had to," said Heady, who finished with 32 points. "We all have each other's back here."
Clay fouled out with 3:50 left in the second OT and the Warriors behind, 92-91. But only 16 seconds later, there was Heady converting an and-one to put WVC back up 94-92, a lead it would not surrender.
Next, Heady darted down the lane for a basket, and after two Branden Rayzer-Moore free throws, he hit a jump stop shot from the lane to make it 100-95 and the Warriors had carved out a little breathing room.
Nettles then added icing on the cake. He took a pass from fellow COVID sophomore Simon Wilson and slammed it home, then canned two free throws with 1:10 left to make it 104-96.
"A big-time pass," was how Wodajo viewed Wilson's assist.
However, even the 50th minute held some drama. Heady missed two free throws at :33 and Southwestern took advantage, getting back to within two points, 104-102.
So, when given a second chance at the free throw line with 20 seconds remaining, there was "no way," according to Heady, that he would miss again.
He did not, and Trayton Trice added two more at the :10 mark to account for the final score.
That Wabash Valley would even shine at the end seemed a bit far-fetched the way the second half began. Three straight Warrior turnovers allowed the Blue Storm to score the first seven points of the half and wipe out the 40-36 lead the hosts enjoyed at the break.
All Clay did was score the next 11 Warrior points, including a slam, layup, and a 3-ball, and the game was tied at 51 by the 14-minute mark.
And it was Clay's inside flyer with 16 seconds left in regulation that tied the game at 78 and forced the first overtime.
He scored the last point of the first OT as well, a free throw with 12.8 seconds left to tie things at 89, creating a second five-minute period.
"I'm doing the best I can for them," Clay said of his teammates. "They give me that drive to want to win with them."
As to the three conference losses, Clay said "that is not a good feeling. So, we had to come out on top today."
Clay finished with 30 points, but it was not a game-high total. That honor went to Heady, who scored 32. Then came Rayzer-Moore and Nettles, with 13 points each, and Casey, who fouled out with 1:31 left in regulation, with 10.
Southwestern had a 30-point plus performance of its' own. Forward Dre Boyd led the Blue Storm with 31.
WVC has two more road games before getting a break for the holiday. The Warriors play at Kaskaskia on Saturday, Dec. 17th, and at Danville Area two days later. The latter game could mark the debut for freshman transfer Jaylen Boyd, who gains eligibility then.
WARRIOR NOTES: Southwestern coach Jay Harrington was not the only ex-Warrior coach NJCAA Hall of Famer in the house on Saturday. Dan Sparks was in attendance as well, and sat next to long-time Sports Information Director and WVC Foundation member Bill Hackler...