TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pasco News

Rams' Impressive Run Comes To An End

Brandon 61, Ridgewood 57

ADVERTISEMENT

By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: February 20, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - NEW PORT RICHEY - Ridgewood's 2008 boy's basketball campaign came to a heartbreaking end Tuesday night, falling at home 61-57 to Brandon High in a battle of two 20-win teams riding double-digit winning streaks.

The senior-laden Eagles (23-4) proved to have just a little more left in the tank as they used clutch free-throw shooting and a last second steal to ice the victory.

With 13.2 seconds remaining and the game knotted at 57-57, Brandon guard A.J. Sicignano was sent to the line where he promptly nailed his two free-throw attempts.

The conversion gave Ridgewood (24-4) one last hope to keep their season alive.

Following a timeout, Ridgewood point guard and all-time assist leader Mike Lawrence's inbounds pass – designed to hit shooting guard Alvin Satram – missed its mark. Instead, Brandon's Marcus Morrison dashed in front, slapped the ball toward center court for a self-induced breakaway and emphatically threw down a two-handed slam to seal Ridgewood's fate.

Arguably the best ball distributor in Pasco County, it was an out-of-the-ordinary note for Lawrence to end an accomplished high school career on. But, as Ridgewood head coach Gary Anders said afterward, the play was more what Morrison did rather than what Lawrence and Satram did not.

"That kid did a great job coming off somebody else," Anders said of Morrison's play. "We had (Satram's) guy back screened. In a game like this, a few mistakes are the difference between winning and losing. That's just part of the game."

While Morrison's last-second heroics preserved the Brandon victory, he was also involved in a play that nearly cost the Eagles dearly just more than a minute prior.

At the line with the Eagles down 57-55, Morrison missed on each of two free-throw attempts. Ridgewood pulled in the defensive rebound, but could not hold onto the ball, giving possession right back to watch guard Tarron Stewart tie the game with a layup.

Three Eagles finished in double figures scoring with Stewart's 25 points leading the way.

Satram and fellow junior Lukas Poderis guided the Rams offensively by each totaling 21 points.

Leading up to the nail-biting conclusion, both squads spent the night duking it out in title-fight fashion.

Ridgewood grabbed a quick seven-point edge early in the first quarter and Brandon battled back to jump on top by six midway through the second.

After the first half ended in a tie, 28-28, no advantage was greater than four points and the lead would change hands seven times.

Brandon now advances to host defending state champion Lake Howell on Saturday night.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT