February 2008--Maryland Women over Florida State, 92-84 ... senior day for coach Brenda Frese's first whopper recruiting class Crystal Langhorne, Laura Harper, Ashleigh Newman and Jade Perry. The first two became stars that helped deliver the 2006 National title-- the second pair were just as valuable as role players who subdued egos for the betterment of the program. Coach Frese was also returning from a brief maternity leave-- (her twins had been born one week earlier)...trailing by eight with under three minutes left, the Terps closed regulation with an 11-3 run--and then Kristi Toliver took over by scoring 8 of the team's 16 points in the extra session. My finishing call on our broadcast--"Overtime--their time...one last time!"
February 2007--Maryland Men 89, #5 North Carolina 87 ... Gary Williams' program had missed back to back NCAA's and was on the mat with a 3-6 conference mark just a few weeks earlier...but four straight double digit wins over Duke, NC State, Clemson and Florida State had the Terps thinking tournament--only to welcome conference leader North Carolina. The fifth rated Tar Heels were talented as always and showed it by jumping out to a quick 24-11 lead...and then UNC's ADD surfaced. DJ Strawberry took over (27 points and leadership that doesn't show up on the stat-shet) while big men Ekene Ibekwe, James Gist and Bambale Osby took over underneath (32 points and 26 rebounds over a combined 70 minutes)--as the Terps outrebounded the Tar Heels by 13.
Trailing by 12 with 7:14 remaining, the Terps closed the game on a 24-10 tear that saw two seniors shine--Mike Jones netted 9 of his 18 points in that spurt while Ekene Ibekwe hit four free throws in the final 71 seconds. As time expired, students at Comcast rushed the floor--and Maryland was on its way back to the big dance...with authority.
March 1997--Indiana HS Regional Finals...Delta 56, Anderson 48 ... the final season of single-class basketball saw an upset for the ages as the unheralded Eagles shocked the big-city Indians in their home gym--an 8,996 seat arena known as the Wigwam. Coach Ron Hecklinski's team hailed from the powerful North Central Conference--a league known for state titles (9 of the previous 22) and Mr. Basketballs (15 that included the likes of Steve Alford and Jay Edwards) while the lightly regarded Eagles were moving from the White River to the Hoosier Heritage Conference. But somehow Paul Keller's plucky team behind the combination of Tyce Schideler inside, Petey Jackson outside and Billy Lynch at the controls (only in Indiana do kids still go by Petey and Billy) was enough to deliver victory--and give fans one last ride through the month of March as the Eagles advanced to the state championship game. Flash-forward 12 years: Anderson's population has declined 20% in the last 30 years as many of the General Motors jobs that were the backbone of the area are gone; amidst budget deficits and a troubling economy the city of Anderson is considering closing the Wigwam--which no longer draws even a third of its capacity.
March 1995--Division II East Regional Semifinals...New Hampshire College 113, St. Rose 110 (overtime) ... the Penmen had to contend with 7-foot center Garth Joseph (in D2 6-5 is tall)--thankfully NHC's David, 5-foot-9 Rob Paternostro poured in 44 points and coach Stan Spirou's bunch was on its way back to a third straight Elite Eight appearance. This was my first year providing color analysis to our broadcasts on WGIR as I was the studio host for the previous two winters--and I had pulled an all-nighter preparing features for our coverage before anchoring sportscasts that morning. Powered by Mountain Dew and the excitement of the New Hampshire College Fieldhouse--I kept pace with voice of the Penmen Rich Levine for 45 action-packed minutes...and only stepped on his call once or twice at the end of the game...(sorry Rich). In the "where is he now?" category, Rob Paternostro is now coaching in England after a 13 year career overseas.
March 1990--Syracuse 89, Georgetown 87 (overtime) ...my buddy Max and I painted our faces Orange and Blue (with Blue S's and Orange U's) as SU and Gtown wrapped up an incredible first decade of Big East dominance--squaring off on the final day of the regular season for the title and top seed in the upcoming conference tournament. This was a game that saw Hoyas coach John Thompson get ejected in the first half (SU would knock down a free throw, all four shots on JT's double technical and can a three-pointer to post a TEN POINT PLAY)...the Hoyas would rally and take a two point lead on a pair of free throws by Alonzo Mourning with under ten seconds remaining. All was lost as Billy Owens unleashed a 35-foot prayer...but he was fouled by Sam Jefferson--sank two free throws and the Orange won in OT. Postscript: everyone thought this was the precursor to a Big East Finals battle between the two schools--not realizing UConn was on its way to a first of many Big East championships.
December 1986--Manchester West 78, Nashua 76 (2OT) ... it all began with an early season Class L affair between a Blue Knight squad that had won 2 games the previous winter against the defending champion Purple Panthers...it was the beginning of the "Bleacher Creature" Era on 9 Notre Dame Avenue--led by senior class president Ed Pease, the rowdy and often inappropriate student section (holding up newspapers, wearing blond wigs, throwing dog biscuits, calling refs "Miracle Whip" and players "Stubby McGillicuddy") would receive a lot of heat from the NHIAA over the next two winters. I had always been a football guy--cutting my sports fan teeth watching college football with my dad and then pro football with 3 newspapers at my fingertips. This evening changed everything --it was like the first time I heard REM's "Fall on Me"...I discovered a new world I didn't know existed.
Oh yeah, the game. Somehow coach Tommy Ameen's team jumped out big early before being reeled in by the fourth quarter. Last-second shots by Nashua knotted things up at the end of regulation as well as the first extra session. Tim O'Connell's reverse layup with four seconds left sealed a program-changing victory for the Blue Knights- they'd make the state playoffs that winter, post a winning record the following season and reach the final four in 1990 before finally realizing their dreams of a State Title in 1993. Tim's gamewinning basket? It was his first field goal of the game. While that might not be strange--I told you about the gametying shots at the end of regulation and the first OT? Those respective players' first baskets of the night as well.
1 comment:
How could I forget the March 1995 battle between New Hampshire College and St. Rose. Garth Joseph later played in the IBL for Trenton when I worked for the Las Vegas franchise. He was so big it's amazing, however he wore mittens when he played. You and Rich were great...sitting in your former chair as in-studio host, I had one of the best seats in the house. You guys were great!
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