Boys basketball: Terps' Fenlon picks best time to make best shot

By KEITH NIEBUHR
Published December 23, 2007

TAMPA - By his own admission, Conner Fenlon isn't much of a scoring threat.

"I'm not," he said, "the shooter type of guy."

Maybe not, but the Tampa Prep senior guard proved Saturday that he knows what to do when he gets an open look. Behind Fenlon's 3-pointer from 21 feet with 6.1 seconds left, the host Terrapins defeated Chamberlain 52-51 in a thrilling final at the City of Tampa Championship.

"I don't know what to say right now," Fenlon said.

His last game-winning shot?

"I've never had one," Fenlon said. "Ever."

For Tampa Prep, the victory had added significance. The Terrapins (9-1) had lost in their three previous tourney final appearances. And, of course, there's this: Conner's father, Joe, just happens to be Tampa Prep's coach.

"It's real exciting," the elder Fenlon said. "It couldn't have ended any better for (Conner). When I woke him up this morning, I said, 'Wouldn't it be great to win the championship in your senior season?' "

Conner Fenlon almost didn't have the chance. Down the stretch, he turned the ball over twice, then asked his father to be taken out of the game.

"I was hanging my head, but he kept his faith in me," Conner Fenlon said.

As is often the case, Tampa Prep was paced by 6-foot-6 forward David Waller, who scored 23 and was named tourney MVP. Chamberlain (9-3) got 18 from point guard Dantavis Adkins.

Adkins' layup with 1:04 left tied the game at 49. At the 21-second mark, Mike Plummer's 18 foot jumper gave the Chiefs a two-point lead. That set the stage for the basket of Conner Fenlon's life.

[Last modified December 22, 2007, 23:04:28]