Magic isn’t just reserved for March. And no one needs February magic quite like a bubble team.
Clemson has been doing the tightrope walk between in and out for the last month, until last night.
Last night the Tigers channeled all the madness and mayhem that makes March Madness special and put on a show, handing Duke its first ACC loss and likely forcing their way into the NCAA Tournament.
The 53-51 outcome was special, but getting there was even better.
Duke led for 82 percent of the game. The Blue Devils, the top team in the ACC, were the clear favorites. And with 6:38 left in the second quarter, Clemson trailed 22-8, the biggest deficit of the game. Enter senior Morgan Lee.
Lee transferred to Clemson after one season at Georgetown and two seasons at Marist. She spent most of this season on the bench, appearing in 16 games and averaging 1.0 point in 5.3 minutes of action per contest.
But when the Tigers needed her, Lee had her moment.
Down 14, Lee lined up a 3-pointer, her second attempt of the day. Lee hadn’t made a 3 all season, but something must have felt good on her first attempt. Or maybe that February magic was doing double-duty and giving a boost on Senior Day. Because she pulled up with confidence and nailed it.
Then, on her team’s next possession, Lee knocked down a turnaround jumper, cutting Duke’s lead to nine. She didn’t score another point, but the job was done. Lee’s confidence was contagious. The run was on, and by halftime Clemson trailed by just six points.
Which brings us to our next heroes: Seniors Mia Moore and Demeara Hinds.
Moore started her career at Mississippi State, where she was injured and never played, before a season at UAB. She found a home at Clemson for her last two seasons of eligibility. Hinds played four years at Wake Forest before becoming a Tiger for her final year.
Hinds led the charge with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Moore had 11 points, six assists and three steals.
Clemson needed every point in a game of long possessions where scoring was hard to find. That worked in its favor. With fewer possessions – and 17 turnovers – Duke could never put Clemson away.
Now it’s time for our final hero of the night.
Hannah Kohn is a 3-point specialist, but she didn’t look it against Duke, starting the game 0-4. Still, there is no one on roster that coach Shawn Poppie trusts more than Kohn. She played her freshman season for him at Chattanooga and then Poppie brought her to Clemson when he took over last season.
So with three seconds left and a potential at-large bid slipping away, Poppie turned to Kohn, drawing up a set where Moore drove to the hoop and found Kohn at the top of the key for the game-winning shot.
How’s that for magic?
Heroes aren’t just made in March. They exist all season long; you just have to look for them.