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VIDEO NOW ADDED!
By Ryan Mink
rmink@digitalsports.com
When Jeremy Williams’ last-second shot in regulation hit the front of the rim and bounced straight up, Williams thought he had just lost the game for the Blue Devils.
But the ball went straight up as the buzzer sounded in mid-air and came back down right through the hoop.
Williams’ shot gave himself and Springbrook a second chance and the Blue Devils followed through – albeit after two overtimes – to beat Baltimore’s Walbrook in the 4A Maryland boys basketball semifinals, 74-69.
The defending state champion Blue Devils will now face Wise, who came from behind to beat Thomas Stone, in Saturday’s state final at the Comcast Center at 8 p.m.
“It seemed like it was up there for a long time, a real real long time,†Williams said of his shot after it hit the front of the rim. “I’m just glad it went in.â€
Just seconds before his last-second shot, it seemed as though Williams was going to be the scapegoat. With Springbrook (26-0) leading by just one point, Williams’ dump-down pass to Jamal Olasewere – who led all scorers with 28 points – was wide and bounced out of bounds with 18.9 seconds left.
Walbrook senior Donte Stuckey (19 points) sunk two free throws with 15.7 seconds left, leaving Springbrook three points behind. Williams, who had scored just four points to that point, squared up with the season on his shoulders.
“When it first left my hand it looked good,†Williams. “But when it bounced, I thought it was off. I was just happy I got the lucky roll.â€
Springbrook erupted in joy and relief. The Blue Devils had led since the opening minute of the second half until Walbrook phenom Roscoe Smith (14 points) hit a hanging jumper with 31.8 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Smith was largely handcuffed throughout the game, however.
“I never felt as though we weren’t going to win,†Springbrook Coach Tom Crowell said. “In all the tight games somebody has always stepped up.â€
The Blue Devils controlled the first overtime as well. Zaid Hearst notched the first four points and Williams hit a free throw that gave Springbrook a three-point lead. But Chris Carter missed two free-throws with 16.2 seconds left, allowing Walbrook the chance to tie the game.
Sure enough, Walbrook guard Denzel Walker (22 points) buried a three-pointer with 4.9 seconds left to tie the game and send it into a second overtime.
“I feel as if everybody left it on the floor,†Stuckey said. “Shots didn’t go in, but I feel as though we dug in and everybody gutted it out.â€
The Blue Devils came out gunning once again in the second overtime. Olasewere – who was absolutely dominant throughout regulation — fouled out with 2 minutes, 24 seconds left in the second overtime but it didn’t throw Springbrook off.
Senior Brandon Davis corralled an important loose ball and had the wherewithal to call a timeout with 1:01 left. Walbrook still only trailed by two points when it seemed to get a stop. But with the ball bouncing out of bounds, the Warriors blindly tossed it back inbounds and right to Springbrook with 32 seconds remaining.
After taking some more time off the clock, Williams hit a crucial pair of free throws with 26.4 seconds left to give the Blue Devils enough cushion to finally escape.
“It was hard but we came together as a team and we pulled it out,†Olasewere said. “I don’t want it to be easy. I want it to be hard.â€
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