HERSHEY -There were whispers this season. People wondered: Why did Penn State offer a scholarship to State College shooting guard Willie Morse last summer?

Morse, who has verbally committed to play for the Nittany Lions, showed the reason why Saturday night against Chester in the Class AAAA state championship game with a splendid performance to fuel the Little Lions' first-ever state title.

The 6-foot-3 junior with the close-cropped hair scored a career-high 33 points, tied a career-high with five 3-pointers and was oh-so clutch from the free throw line in overtime, hitting all six of his foul shots in the Little Lions 76-71 victory at the Giant Center.

"That was unbelievable," State College senior Gabe Norwood said. "He's been trying to prove all year that he's legit, that he is a Penn State recruit and he's going there and is going to do well. He came out there and did it tonight."

Morse sank 11-of-18 shots, was perfect from the foul line and made big play after big play to lead State College's fourth-quarter rally.

"Since you're two feet tall shooting on the Fisher-Price, you think of playing in the state championship and be able to have a night like that out here," Morse said.

Morse entered the game averaging an unspectacular 11.9 points per game but scored 14 in the first half to stake State College to a 32-27 halftime lead before Chester surged back in the third quarter and led 57-48 with 4:58 to play.

Bang. Morse drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key to cut the lead to six with 4:42 left in regulation.

Boom. Morse sank an open three to cut the lead to three with 2:38 remaining.

Morse passed up a perimeter shot and fed John Stupar for a layup to cut the lead to 59-58.

Then came a floater in the lane with 43 seconds to play as State College grabbed a 60-59 lead before Chester forced overtime.

Stupar fouled out with 1:05 left in regulation and Gabe Norwood was gone with 2:44 left in the extra period.

Morse was still there, scoring eight of State College's 16 points in an overtime it never trailed.

When it was over, Morse held up his left index finger and joined his teammates in an oncourt celebration of hugs.

Morse leaped up to share the moment with the Little Lion supporters in the stands, who came by the busload for the first state title game appearance by a Centre County school in 50 years.

Willie's father, Mike Morse, jumped down from the stands and gave his son a hug when it was over.

"The amazing thing is he didn't care about points or scoring records, he wanted to lead a team to a state title," said Mike Morse, who works in Penn State's kiniesology department. "That was his number one goal."

Mike Morse wore a picture of his father, William Morse around his neck. He used to work at the Bryce Jordan Center. He died Feb. 11, 2002.

Willie Morse got the initials he shares with his granfather tatooed on his chest prior to the season.

"He was his biggest fan and he's here," Mike Morse said.

Outside the locker room, Penn State assistant coach Pat Brogan told Morse "to keep working on your game."

Morse scored a season-high 26 points on Feb. 4 against Central Mountain but had only two in the District 6 final loss to Altoona.

"I think I had it in me all year," Morse said. "This is just the right place to show it. We're state champs. I've been playing for a state championship all year not to show people I'm good enough to go here."

State College coach Drew Frank said he thought Morse had been receiving unfair criticism this season that he wasn't a Division I player.

"For him to step up and have this kind of game in this kind of setting," Frank said, "will silence many of those critics."