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A resourceful cheerleading duo in Indiana came to the rescue when a basketball got lodged atop the basketball hoop's backboard and in between the backboard and shock clock during a game.
The triumphant save occurred during the second half of the Hoosiers' NCAA men's tournament game against St. Mary's in Portland Oregon on Thursday night.
This Indiana cheerleader is a legend for this pic.twitter.com/qP3X5ZHBex— Bleacher Report (@Bleacher Report) 1647564529
It was too risky for any of the players to dislodge the ball, and they would not have been tall enough the reach the ball on their own.
Can\u2019t have a player do it. It\u2019s too much of a risk. If he falls off, oop there goes his game.— Murph (@Murph) 1647570227
After a referee unsuccessfully reached the ball by standing on a chair and using a mop, the game crowd and commentators called upon the Hoosier's cheerleaders to save the day.
Cassidy Cerny and her teammate Nathan Paris stepped up to the task. Paris hoisted Cerny up with her feet firmly planted on his hand palms, and she was able to knock the ball from its perch.
Moment of the tournament— Kenny White (@Kenny White) 1647565553
Here is another angle for you.https://twitter.com/1krishnapakala/status/1504620351203946513\u00a0\u2026— \ud83d\udda5Krishna Pakala\ud83d\udc69\u200d\ud83d\udcbb\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83d\udcbb\ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83c\udf93\ud83d\udc69\u200d\ud83c\udf93 (@\ud83d\udda5Krishna Pakala\ud83d\udc69\u200d\ud83d\udcbb\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83d\udcbb\ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83c\udf93\ud83d\udc69\u200d\ud83c\udf93) 1647580762
TBS commentator Andrew Catalon was heard shouting in the viral video, "Yes, get the cheerleader up, get her up there! This is how you do it!"
As Cerny was brought back down, the crowd cheered over the exciting display and Catalon commented:
"What a play! 'The cheerleader saves the day! And that is her one shining moment!"
\u201cSHE\u2019S GOT IT! WHAT A PLAY!\u201d\n\nThe cheerleader saves the day #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/pxQ3eh2Sod— NCAA March Madness (@NCAA March Madness) 1647564629
March Madness 365 podcast creator Andy Katz interviewed the duo, who unexpectedly became a highlight of the game.
"At what point did you realize you needed to do something?" Katz asked, about the cheerleading team's decision to get the ball.
An enthusiastic Cerny responded with her March Madness moment.
"We were like maybe they should throw us up this time, maybe put us up in there," she said.
"But then it actually happened. I didn't think it was going to happen, though!"
That\u2019s awesome!!! I\u2019m sure it\u2019ll be something she\u2019ll always remember— Matt Burr (@Matt Burr) 1647568754
Surely this is ONE SHINING MOMENT worthy! \nShe's a hero!— Jen Gawne (@Jen Gawne) 1647564869
TWO cheerleaders...give some credit to the lifter!— Suzanne (@Suzanne) 1647609661
How about credit to the badass guy that picked her up, walked over to the ball carrying her, then pressed her up to reach it (safely and successfully)? Male cheerleaders rock too!!!— Brian McAboy (@Brian McAboy) 1647625857
Paris weighed in, saying, "They had the chair out there but they couldn't put the player on the chair, and I said, ' we lift them up all the time, so why not try that?'"
You can watch their interview here.
@TheAndyKatz (reporter) interviews Indiana cheerleaders Cassidy Cerny & Nathan Paris following their #OneShiningMoment #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/RQj3tzO5a4— Announcer Schedules (@Announcer Schedules) 1647571105
Speaking with NBC's Today Show on Friday, Paris also said:
“They kept trying different ways and nothing really was working. And so all of us kind of looked at each other and our captain, Ethan, (said), ‘We need the tallest guy to lift somebody up to see if we can get to the top of the backboard.'
Kudos to the guy that hoisted her up over his head! That took strength!— NG Hom (@NG Hom) 1647570231
He added:
“So, I’m one of the tallest on the team, so I grabbed Cassidy and said, ‘Maybe this’ll work.'"
Hits all the PC notes, just so right. Multi-cultural cheerleader ASSISTED by broad shouldered white male to save the day on a traditional sport dominated by tall men and judges who couldn\u2019t come up with a solution to keep their game going. GOTTA LOVE IT— BowTiedSibercat (@BowTiedSibercat) 1647568746