Boys 5A hoops: Rams' last shot at win snatched away

By IZZY GOULD
Published February 20, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - One play will stick in the memory of two kids for two very different reasons.

The scoreboard had 9.7 seconds left Tuesday night when Ridgewood called timeout trailing visiting Brandon by two.

Gary Anders huddled his Rams and dictated a play. Mike Lawrence would inbound the ball to Alvin Satram somewhere above the key. He would either shoot, penetrate the lane or find a teammate inside.

The play was working as Satram came across the top and his defender was screened. Ridgewood didn't account for Eagles forward Marcus Morrison, who blitzed through the top of a key like a linebacker. He intercepted the inbounds pass and raced to the other end, where he threw down a two-handed dunk to secure a 61-57 victory.

"He just threw it up there and I had to go for it," Morrison said. "All or nothing. ... We did it. We came in and we beat them. They hadn't lost at home all year."

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 (23-4) got a game-high 22 from guard Tarron Stewart while Ridgewood (24-4) countered with Satram's 21 on the perimeter.

The lead bounced back and forth. Ridgewood held its biggest advantage at 9-2 in the first quarter before a Brandon timeout. The Eagles responded and went up by as many as six twice in the second quarter before the teams went into halftime tied at 28. Neither team led by more than three for the final 14 minutes.

Lawrence, who entered his final game averaging 12.9 points, walked off Anders Court with his father by his side after scoring just one point. Anders didn't say anything specific to his talented senior, who leaves Ridgewood the all-time assists leader.

"I think he cried," Poderis said of Lawrence in the locker room. "... He was a great point guard, passing the ball, getting out of trouble."

Ridgewood had won 13 home games and came in with a 14-game winning streak. Anders addressed his players for less than 10 minutes. Then he started the team laundry for the final time this season and said he would back for another run, giving him a chance to add to his 508 career wins.

"I'm here," Anders said with a laugh. "Somebody has to sweep the floor."

[Last modified February 19, 2008, 23:04:25]