Gate City, a small town with a strong sense of community, holds a special place in the heart of football lineman Jacob “Bobo” Bowman. He expressed that “it means everything, the pride and tradition we have here: it’s just an awesome place to be. Wouldn’t rather be anywhere else”. The camaraderie and tradition at Gate City compelled him to step up and become the manager of the high school basketball team in order to be with his friends.
Junior guard Gabe Johnson referred to him as “the heart and soul of this team,” while senior guard Eli McMurray added that Bobo “loves every second being around us.” Senior forward Gunner Garrett concurred, stating “He’s one of us.”
Bobo himself expressed his fondness for the team, stating that he loves being around the guys, whether it’s playing guitar hero, filming for the team, or practicing his jumper in the hopes of one day making it into a game.
Gate City head basketball coach Chris Fugate also commented on the special bond within the group, despite all their accomplishments. The team had already secured the regular-season district championship, a feat that Fugate wanted to honour by commissioning a special banner.
During the banner unveiling, Bobo made a spontaneous request that would change everything. He asked, “What’s number 20 doing by name? He said, ‘You going to let me play against DB [Dobyns-Bennett]?’ I’m like ‘Yeah, yeah I’m going to get you in Bowb [sic]'”.
The opportunity arose during the Blue Devils’ game against Dobyns-Bennett, with the team down by four points and only nine seconds left in the game. Fugate turned to the seniors and asked if they wanted him to play Bobo. Without hesitation, they urged Fugate to put Bobo in, confident that they would win anyway.
With the ball in his hands from the inbound pass, Bobo took a shot that hit off the backboard and went in, resulting in an incredible three-point shot. The ecstatic reaction from the team was overwhelming for Bobo, who couldn’t believe what had just happened. His teammates shared in his joy, emphasizing that his shot was all that mattered, regardless of the game’s outcome.
The excitement didn’t end there as a turnover by Dobyns-Bennett off the inbound pass gave Gate City another chance to secure the win. In a last-ditch effort, Gabe Johnson took a shot in the final seconds, ultimately securing the victory for Gate City.
Reflecting on the moment, Coach Poore from Dobyns-Bennett acknowledged the storybook ending, recognizing the incredible turn of events that led to an unexpected victory. This remarkable story wouldn’t have been possible without the contributions of Bobo, who left an indelible mark on the game and the memories of everyone involved.