Pfeil’s buzzer-beater lifts Sailors

It was Vermilion freshman Joby Pfeil’s fadeaway, please-go-in-shot that gave the Sailors a 59-57 win at the buzzer against the host Rocky River Pirates on Dec. 19.

“It felt amazing. The crowd was around me, jumping around. It was exciting and probably the best feeling in my life,” Pfeil said.

Vermilion coach Kurt Habermehl acknowledged Pfeil and his awareness to get a shot off in time.

“He knew the situation, he knew it was winding down, and he did a great job getting that shot off,” Habermehl said. “I’m not even sure if he saw the rim because there was someone in his face. Give him a lot of credit. He kept his composure and managed to get a good shot off.”

Trailing by as many as eight in the fourth quarter, Rocky River’s Jimmy Kinsley gave the Pirates its first lead of the game, sinking both free throws on the one-and-one, giving his team a 55-53 advantage.

With under a minute to go, Vermilion’s Kyle Nader put his team up, 57-55, and the game was tied when Kinsley made a jumper from the left wing.

In the closing seconds and with the ball in his hands, Nader forced a tough jumper from the right wing, only to be rebounded by Pfeil.

“Joby has been contributing very well. He’s a very defensive-minded player and we all trust him a lot offensively and defensively and he made a great shot,” Nader said. “We’re all happy for him right now.

Pfeil has been getting reps the past two weeks due to illness and injuries to the Vermilion team.

Despite Rocky River’s lead for a brief moment in the fourth quarter, Pirates coach Michael Murray said his team didn’t deserve to win the game.

“Our kids played hard to get back into it. We were scrambling all night,” Murray said. “We were lucky to get back into it … the game was lost more in the first half with our failure to execute than it was at the end of the game.”

Rocky River (3-3) was plagued by turnovers in the first half, committing Boys basketball 10. Vermilion’s (3-2) full-court and half-court traps created some difficulties for Rocky River.

“Defensively, I thought we were lights-out tonight. That’s probably one of the most difficult teams to defend because all of the action they used with their offense,” Habermehl said. “I can’t say enough about Caleb Waller’s on-the-ball defense tonight because he made them (Rocky River) work the entire game … it’s nice to get the ball at the end of the game to at least give yourself a chance.”

Nader, who came into tonight’s game averaging 30 points, dropped 27 and grabbed seven rebounds. He was also 8 for 11 from the free-throw line. Waller scored 13 and was 3 of 6 from 3-point land.

Jack Corrigan led Rocky River with 16 points and Eric Jones chipped in with 12.

Vermilion’s win against Rocky River gives the Sailors their first win in the West Shore Conference. With a buzzerbeating win, Nader said it’s a great victory to move forward with.

“We were waiting for this game, we had to bounce back after two losses … with those, I think it was great for us to come out on top,” Nader said.