March is a cruel month.
When newfound folk hero Jack Gohlke hit a pair of free throws to bring his Oakland Golden Grizzlies level in the final minute of Saturday’s game against NC State, the dream was alive.
When Oakland got a stop on the ensuing possession, it all felt perfect. The fairytale 14-seed controlled its own destiny to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.
Even when fans saw the first replay of an apparent turnover, it looked like the stage was still set for a Golden Grizzlies buzzer beater, as Wolfpack defender Mohamed Diarra’s pinky deflected an errant pass by Chris Conway.
But a closer look showed Conway’s fingertips were still on the ball after it hit Diarra, and NC State got the ball back with a chance of their own. But a halfcourt heave was off the mark, sending the game to overtime.
Halfway through the extra period, the dream was still alive and well, thanks to a trio of Trey Townsend free throws that had Oakland on top, 69-68.
But it all came crashing down in the final two minutes of overtime as the Wolfpack closed on an 11-4 run to end the Golden Grizzlies’ bid for March Madness eternity.
The Pack scored on three straight possessions, including a pair of big-time 3-pointers that put the game out of reach.
Gohlke, two nights removed from draining 10 3-pointers — one shy of the NCAA Tournament single-game record — in an upset of 3-seed Kentucky, hit six more triples Saturday night and finished with 22 points.
It was a noble effort for the transfer from Division II Hillsdale who took the sports world by storm on Thursday.
Townsend, the Horizon League Player of the Year, poured in 30 points and snared 13 rebounds to lead the way for Oakland.
While the son of two former Oakland basketball players took it to the Wolfpack in the post throughout the night, it was a pair of second-half 3-pointers — just his 11th and 12th longballs all season — that helped the Golden Grizzlies keep the game within reaching distance.
Saturday’s loss may have ended head coach Greg Kampe’s 40th season at Oakland on a sour note, but fans will long remember 2024 as the year of Gohlke and the Golden Grizzlies.