Kan. HS coach whose blindfolded half-court shot became Internet hit gets Final Four tickets

Kan. HS basketball coach to get tickets, after all

OLATHE, Kan. — A Kansas high school basketball coach whose blindfolded half-court shot became an Internet sensation will be going to the Final Four after all.

Joel Branstrom says he can’t disclose where the tickets are coming from. But he said Wednesday he’s been told he and his family will get tickets, lodging and transportation to Indianapolis for the games in April.

Branstrom, a former University of Kansas walk-on, went along with what was supposed to be a prank last week during a pep rally at Olathe Northwest High School, where he also teaches biology.

Students who set up the prank and promised the basketball tickets were shocked when he made the blindfolded shot — especially since they didn’t have any tickets.