How the campus reacted to Hailey Jackson’s clutch free throws in national championship game

By Gabe Perry
Staff writer
IG: @gabep_24

Calm, cool, collected and clutch.

Those might be the first words that come to mind when you think of Hailey Jackson’s free throws that forced overtime in the NJCAA Division 1 Women’s Basketball national championship on April 1 in Casper, Wyo.

Down by three with 0.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Jackson sank all three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt. The Blue Dragons won their first championship after winning 88-80 in overtime.

Faculty and students at Hutchinson Community College that were tuned into the game may not have been as calm, cool, and collected. Here is what many at the college were experiencing during Jackson’s free throws.

Tricia Paramore, HutchCC president:

“As a mom, all I could think of is the stress she must be feeling and my heart was just really going out to her. As a fan, I was thinking, ‘she’s got this.’ It’s free throws. Players practice free throws all the time.

“I was elated – for her and for the team as a whole.  What a way to come in clutch for your team.”

Erin Ellis, Jackson’s academic adviser:

“I was really excited that she had the opportunity to tie the game. I was also a little bit nervous but had total faith in Hailey’s abilities. Once she made the free throws, I knew we would win the game.”

Matt Wilper, economics instructor:

“When Jackson was shooting her free throws, I was in my living room listening to the game. Sling subscription I have does not have ESPNU. However, I was listening to the game on My 93.1 and Sean Boston’s play-by-play was amazing.

“When she was fouled and went to the line, my heart was pounding, anxiety was at a max. I cannot imagine the pressure she went through during that time. She was carrying the whole team on her back in that monument.

“When she made all three of the free throws, I was shocked. I could not believe she sent the game into overtime. I have watched clips of the free throws. You can see the relief and happiness when she made the final shot. I still don’t know how she handled the pressure. In overtime, we seemed to have the momentum, I knew we were going to win. Because I was listening to the game on my phone, I started to screen record the final moments of the game. It’s fun to listen to every now and then.”

Josh Gooch, Athletic Director:

“I was standing behind the basket on the floor. I had watched from the stands for the first half but people kept texting me that they could see me on the television so I moved.

“It was a big relief when the last one went through the net. Big time clutch moment. Thought was ‘let’s win it OT.’”

Trenton Roehler, HutchCC sophomore:

“I was at my apartment watching the game on my Mac book.

“I was nervous for her and the team. I know they had worked so hard and had such a good year and didn’t want to see them lose at the end. I knew she could do it and make the free throws to force OT. After she made the free throws, it was kinda like a relief and shocked that they came all the way back to force OT. As they were down a lot more earlier in the fourth. I was really happy for them, being able to finish off their incredible year with the national title.”

Josh Cline, redshirt freshman:

“There was a watch party in the dorms, it was a few baseball players and a bunch of other people.

“It was nerve-racking, she had to hit these free throws to make the comeback worth it at all. We were all so shocked that it was actually happening, we had so much momentum going into OT that we all thought here that we were going to win.”

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