Even high school stars couldn’t bring the crowd to Trenton
Basketball is dead. At least in Trenton, as this capital city with a rich history and love for Dr. Naismith’s game, no longer holds a torch for basketball.
That reality surfaced Monday after Franklin High and Patrick School claimed NJSIAA Tournament of Champions girls and boys titles respectively inside a cavernous Sun National Bank Center.
In fact, more fans attended Franklin’s buzzerbeating 50-48 win over Manasquan than the Patrick School’s 69-55 victory over Don Bosco Prep.
Normally, a chance to see outstanding ballers attracts Trenton hardcourt aficionados but few familiar faces appeared.
Patrick School’s roster included Kentucky bound 6-10 senior forward Nick Richards.
The Celtics roster showcased 6-3 guard Marcus McClary (Monmouth), 6-2 guard Jamir Harris (Minnesota), 6-8 Vladir Manuel (non-committed) and 5-11 guard Jordan Walker, unsigned but recruited by Kansas State and Seton Hall.
Cool to see Mike Rice, ex-Rutgers men’s basketball coach, on the Patrick School bench as an assistant coach to head coach Chris Chavannes.
Rice appears headed back to collegiate ranks.
Without a doubt the most heartbreaking moment of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament involved Vanderbilt’s Matthew Fisher-Davis.
After his team took a
one-point lead with 20 seconds to go, Vanderbilt’s junior guard committed an explicable intentional foul.
Northwestern hit both shots which delivered the Wildcats a first-ever NCAA tournament victory.
“I made a dumb-ass foul,” Fisher-Davis said. “That was it. I saw (head coach Bryce) Drew point
but that was just to tell me I (was defending) 30. I made a dumb-ass foul. Obviously it’s hard to take. I especially feel bad for our seniors, going out like that, off a play like that.” Drew empathized. “He made a mistake at the end, yeah, I mean I’m not sure what happened. He’s the type of person that he feels some blame for it. The second half, we had no chance if he didn’t make some of the shots that he did. I just wanted to let him know that, we’re with him no matter what. Every single one of us and what our team is. I’m going to make mistakes and everybody is going to be around me and supporting me and vice versa. That was just how it was.”
“You know, from day one, we teach our guys that we’re a team. And one play at the end or one or two plays at the end doesn’t lose a game for us. There’s plays throughout the whole game that coaches can call better, that players can play better, we’ve had that pattern through the whole year with our guys. I’ll talk to Matt more in depth at some point. He’s down about it. It could have been a miscommunication.”
Mind boggling plays occur in competitive sport when split-second decisions can deliver stunning victory or defeat.
Critics skewered Fisher-Davis for his mistake as if they always succeed during pressure moments.
The Vanderbilt player came to mind Sunday as No. 7 Michigan defeated second seed Louisville.
Nothing turns my stomach more than Cardinals coach Rick Pitino who under a lot less stress than Fisher-Lewis, made the mistake for a lifetime.
His July 2003 sex tryst with Karen Cunagin should have meant termination after the incident became public seven years later.
Pitino confessed the very brief interlude which occurred inside an Italian restaurant in Louisville.
Unlike Fisher-Davis , Pitino had time to think about cheating on his wife, family and basketball program.
The Louisville coach had life experience on his side and represented Cardinals Nation although none of that mattered as Cunagin unzipped his trousers.
The couple had sex atop a restaurant table. Pitino said his sexual encounter lasted 15 seconds. He called the intercourse “unfortunate.”
Hold all 30-second shot clock jokes until the end of this column.
In 2011, a jury convicted Cunagin-Sypher of extortion, lying to the FBI and retaliation against a witness after she attempted to gain millions from Pitino.
In 2016, Louisville suffered notoriety when reports surfaced that Cardinals recruits were gifted prostitutes and other sexual favors during visits.
Pitino blamed subordinates but NCAA officials determined Pitino failed to monitor his program.
The 8th Annual Marco Dillard Scholarship Basketball Games play Saturday, March 25 at Rivera Middle School at 400 N.Montgomery St., Trenton, N.J.
Alumni from Trenton face off against McCorristin graduates in a boys and girls doubleheader.
Squads feature graduates from 1977 through 2007.
The women’s game tips off at 1:30 p.m. followed by the men’s game at 3 p.m.
All proceeds benefit graduating student athletes.
For info contact Arzaga Dillard (609) 306-0231.