Boys 5A hoops: Late steal slams home Brandon victory

By IZZY GOULD
Published February 20, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Gary Anders huddled his Ridgewood players and dictated the final play with 9.7 seconds left.

Rams guard Mike Lawrence would inbound to Alvin Satram. He would either shoot, penetrate or find an open man. Ridgewood didn't account for Brandon forward Marcus Morrison, who soared through the top of the key, intercepting the inbounds pass and racing to the other end, where he threw down a two-handed dunk to secure a 61-57 Eagles victory. Brandon will host Lake Howell on Saturday in the region final.

"He just threw it up there and I had to go for it," Morrison said. "All or nothing. ... We did it."

The highly anticipated battle in the paint emerged as Rams forwards Lukas Poderis 21 points and Derrick Zio (five) countered Eagles forwards Evan Ravenel (11) and Morrison (13). Brandon got a game-high 22 from guard Tarron Stewart while Ridgewood countered with Satram's 21 on the perimeter.

The lead bounced back and forth throughout the night. Ridgewood (24-4) held its biggest advantage by jumping out 9-2 in the first quarter before a Brandon timeout.

The Eagles (23-4) responded and went up by as many as six twice in the second quarter before the teams went to their locker rooms at halftime tied at 28. Neither team led by more than three for the final 14 minutes.

"Marcus did a great job," Eagles coach Mark Hermann. "I told Marcus to stay in the key and be ready to help anywhere, and he did. He anticipated it and got a great steal.

"It was the difference in the game."

Izzy Gould can be reached at izzygould@gmail.com or (727) 580-5315.

[Last modified February 19, 2008, 23:07:58]