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Sophomore forward Nahome Kidane sank a difficult floater from behind the backboard as time expired, giving McLean a dramatic home victory over the Washington-Liberty Generals on Jan. 13.

The last-second finish kept the Highlanders unbeaten in district play at 4-0, their best start in years. McLean entered the game hoping to build on another thrilling win against Marshall.

The teams traded baskets throughout the opening quarter. Senior guards Logan Baldrate and Jake Bell powered McLean’s offense, with Baldrate drilling a deep 3-pointer to give the Highlanders a two-point advantage in the closing seconds. Washington-Liberty answered before the buzzer, leaving the score tied 13-13.

Bell’s layup put McLean ahead 20-18 early in the second quarter, but the Generals took control with a 7-0 run aided by defensive mistakes from the Highlanders. Washington-Liberty carried that momentum into halftime with a 30-22 lead.

“We’ve talked about how we’ve been in close games all year,” head coach Mike O’Brien said. “We were not on the right side of these games, and in the past few, we’ve been learning how to play in these games and it’s a skill to be able to handle that.”

McLean began cutting into the deficit during the third quarter. Baldrate brought the Highlanders within two by making a pair of free throws, but Washington-Liberty rebuilt its lead to eight with only a few minutes remaining in the period.

Bell answered with a fadeaway jumper, and senior guard Nick Karageorgos added a 3-pointer to pull McLean within 40-38 entering the fourth quarter.

Neither team could break away in the final period. Karageorgos converted a Generals turnover into a three that put McLean ahead 47-44, only for Washington-Liberty to immediately tie the game with a 3-pointer of its own.

After the Generals moved ahead by two, senior center Roman Ludwikowski made a layup while drawing a foul. His basket gave McLean a two-point lead, but he missed the ensuing free throw. Washington-Liberty capitalized and went back in front 51-49 with less than two minutes remaining.

Bell then drew a foul while attempting a 3-pointer and made all three free throws, pushing McLean ahead by one with under a minute left. The Generals responded at the foul line and reclaimed a one-point advantage with seven seconds on the clock.

Following a timeout, Baldrate inbounded the ball to Karageorgos. After several dribbles, Karageorgos delivered an acrobatic cross-court pass to Kidane. The sophomore jabbed left, drove along the sideline and lofted a fading floater from behind the backboard that dropped through as the buzzer sounded.

“I was regretting not shooting that three at first because I was open,” Kidane said. “Thankfully I ended up making it. It was the best shot of my life.”

McLean next turns its attention to Friday night’s game against Wakefield as the Highlanders try to extend their unbeaten district run.

“The key for us is not getting complacent,” Bell said. “We need to keep pushing, take the season one game at a time and we’ll be really good.”