Heartbreak In Lacey – Hometown View
I couldn’t tell you how many high school basketball games I’ve attended over the years but it’s fair to say I’ve seen more than the average person…a lot more. Most of the time I don’t have a rooting interest as I’m supposed to be neutral but that changes a bit when it’s tournament time and a local team is playing someone from out of the area.
That was the case last night as I walked into the gym at Lacey Township High School where the Lions would take on perennial state power Camden in the Boys South Jersey Group 3 Championship Final. This was unchartered territory for Lacey, who has had its share of very good players like Chris Fleming and Garrett Gardi over the years but never good enough to win a state sectional title. Meanwhile this was old hat for the Panthers, who according to reports has won a total of 42 sectional titles and whose alumni include former NBA players Billy Thompson, Milt Wagner and DuJuan Wagner.
The Camden team that arrived at Lacey last night is not of the level of some past Panther squads but certainly talented and their presence along with Lacey’s bid for a first-ever state title resulted in a huge crowd packing into the Lions gym. The atmosphere at times was electric and I realized early that this was a game that would go down to the wire. Clearly Camden wanted to run but Lacey coach Ryan O’Rourke has maximized his teams talent this winter by getting them to play a tenacious zone defense while emphasizing patience on offense. It worked well for most of the game as the Lions controlled the pace, often frustrating the visitors.
BACK AND FORTH
The game went back and forth and in the closing moments it became a free throw shooting contest with both teams hitting clutch foul shots. Unfortunately for the home team it was Camden who made the final two with just 6 seconds left in the game to take a 42-40 lead. Following a timeout Lacey inbounded the ball to senior guard Tasheen Carrow, who had played his heart out for 31 minutes and 54 seconds and was the main reason the Lions were in the game. Carrow would finish with a game-high 21 points, including 4 three-pointers and he raced up court in the final frantic seconds dribbling his way past opposing players. Just before the buzzer would sound he let go a running one-hander near the foul line and with thousands of eyes focused on the basket it hit the back of the rim and bounced away as Camden fans mobbed the court and Lacey’s sat in stunned silence.
The difference between winning and losing is often so small and it was last night.
I walked out of the gym following my final tweet feeling somewhat heartbroken for Lacey….who knows when they’ll get this kind of chance again. I hope it’s soon!
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