Parkersburg senior Lauren Flanagan, left, helped lead the Big Reds to the state championship Saturday in Charleston. She is pictured here with her sister Anna, center, father Rudy, back, and mother Sarah, right. Thirty years ago, Sarah also helped lead the Big Reds to a state championship. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — While Lauren Flanagan was sinking a pair of free throws to help the Parkersburg Big Reds clinch a state championship Saturday night in Charleston, her mom Sarah was in the stands having a bit of a deja vu moment.

Thirty years earlier, Sarah Flanagan — then Sarah Hall — made a foul shot to break a 63-all tie against Huntington East to help the Big Reds win the 1996 state title.

Making clutch free throws in the state championship game has officially become a family tradition for the Flanagans.

“That’s always been such a big motivation for me,” Lauren said. “I remember being at my grandma’s house when they pulled out the old tapes. I watched her sink that foul shot. I always thought, ‘I want to play on the same court my mom did.'”

Lauren scored a team-high 19 points Saturday, eclipsing the 1,000-point mark for her career in the process.

Like Lauren on this year’s team, Sarah was the point guard for ’96 Big Reds. They had lost twice to Huntington East during the regular season — kind of like how PHS lost to Parkersburg South twice this year before getting redemption at state.

“It was the first year the state championships were televised,” Sarah recalled. “They had great players. They had one girl who went on to play at Kentucky. We were tied with three seconds left. I drove, shot, got fouled and went to the line — I think they called a timeout. I was very nervous, but I went to that foul line and made the first. I missed the second and it bounced to the back left corner. They got the ball and shot it from halfcourt. They missed and we won. It was crazy.”

One of Sarah’s teammates on that squad happened to be Amy Way, who is now an assistant under PHS head coach Chris Murray — a coaching staff which also includes Lauren’s dad, Rudy Flanagan.

“Amy was our two guard. She was my Frances Guice,” Sarah laughed, referring to the Big Red junior who earned all-tournament honors at state. “She was such a good player. I was so happy when Amy came on staff. She brings a high level basketball IQ and does such a good job. She just knows how to use Lauren.”

For Lauren, a lot of her motivation growing up came from wanting to be like her mom.

“She’s always been there for me,” Lauren said. “All those late nights at the gym on a school night. She got her butt out of bed and rebounded for me. She pushed me when I thought I couldn’t go further.”

There’s a big difference between standing at that foul line and watching from the stands — though Sarah would argue watching from the stands can be just as stressful when it’s your daughter at the charity stripe.

“I was feeling all of the emotions, really,” she said. “Stress. Excitement. I was very, very nervous and definitely had the urge to get out of my seat and do a few laps at times. I was just so proud, not only of Lauren but of the whole team. I have a lot of love for this group of girls. Their love for each other is unwavering.”

Despite all the nerves, Sarah was confident Lauren would deliver for her team. She knows better than anyone how hard her daughter works.

“She always ends with 10 free throws every practice,” Sarah said. “She would always shoot for 20 to 30 minutes after practice was over — sometimes later — but, she always had to end it with 10 free throws in a row.”

It’s been five days since Parkersburg claimed the state title, but it still hasn’t quite set in for Lauren.

“I don’t think it’s ever going to feel real,” said Lauren, who is undecided on a college but plans to major in biology and one day become a dermatologist. “It’s something I’ve worked for my entire life. It’s always been a goal, and to accomplish it with the best group of girls, it truly feels surreal.

“PHS is so deeply rooted in community. The walls are filled with legacies. I’m blessed I’m going to be on that wall right next to my mom’s picture. It’s really unbelievable.”

Contact Jordan Holland at jholland@newsandsentinel.com.