In a state of denial
Senior guard Snodgrass thwarts Fulton’s shot at buzzer to send Crown Point past Merrillville
It wasn’t a good offensive game for Crown Point’s Sam Snodgrass.
It was, however, a great ending for the 6-foot-3 senior guard.
Snodgrass swatted away a shot by Will Fulton at the buzzer Friday night and the Bulldogs held on for a pulsating 47-45 Duneland Athletic Conference victory over Merrillville.
It was a play where it was hard to believe Snodgrass got there.
Merrillville (7-5, 0-2) had the ball with 7.1 seconds left after Matt Hanlon made 1 of 2 free throws.
Everybody in the gym thought Keon Thompson, who finished with 18 points, would probably barrel down the middle and take the final shot. But the Bulldogs were ready for Thompson, and Thompson knew it.
He dumped it to Fulton, who was inside the lane. Snodgrass dropped back from outside the lane and blocked the shot from behind. The team’s second-leading scorer, Snodgrass finished with two points, 11 rebounds and two blocks for Crown Point (7-4, 2-0). He was motivated.
“I got a little frustrated,” he said. “I wasn’t helping my team on the offensive side. My shots weren’t falling. I tried to do others things like rebound, cut hard and make the good pass.”
And block shots.
Crown Point coach Clint Swan expected it.
“I am not surprised,” Swan said of Snodgrass’ block. “That is not unusual. He can really block shots.”
The Pirates had two chances to win in the final minute.
With Crown Point leading 4645, Fulton stole the ball at half court with 27 seconds left.
Again, Merrillville tried to set up a play for Thompson, but he was double-teamed.
Thompson fed the ball to Fulton in the corner for an open 3-pointer, but the shot didn’t fall.
Hanlon was fouled rebounding the ball and he made the free throw. That set up the final play.
Merrillville coach T.J. Lux said the Bulldogs did a “good job of pinching” on Thompson on the last play.
He called Crown Point “a good team with a lot of experienced guys.”
Snodgrass was helped offensively by Elias Gerodemos and Sam Decker.
Gerodemos finished with 19 points and four rebounds and Decker pitched in with 16 points and four rebounds. Gerodemos shot 7-for-9.
Swan said Gerodemos is a player that just has to be on the court.
“He’s one of those guys that is always in the gym,” Swan said. “If he’s not in the gym, he wishes he were in the gym. He loves the game. If you had told me had 19 (Friday), I’d say you were crazy.”
Gerodemos loved being a part of the game.
“That was crazy and awesome,” he said of the win. “I’m going to enjoy it.”