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Another heartbreaker

Free throws cost Lakewood in a 59-55 overtime loss to Lakeland Kathleen.

By JOHN C. COTEY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 30, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- Coach Dan Wright was concerned by his team's inability to make free throws, particularly in the fourth quarter.

Through three tournament games, the Spartans had shot just 40 percent in the final period, and though it didn't bring about any losses, Wright said sooner or later it would.

Saturday night, it did.

As Lakeland Kathleen was making all seven of its free throws in overtime, Lakewood freshman Sean Morrison missed his team's only two with four seconds left in another heartbreaking loss to the Red Devils, this time 59-55 in the Hooters Holiday Shootout final.

Kathleen, ranked No. 1 and the defending Class 4A state champion, duplicated last season's regional championship victory, when it rallied from 15 points down in the final seven minutes. Saturday, it wiped out a 10-point halftime deficit in the first four minutes of the third quarter and then outplayed Lakewood in the final moments.

"We just wanted it more," said Kathleen guard Rashad Anderson, who scored a game-high 26 points and was named tournament MVP.

The Spartans, 13-2 and ranked No. 2 in 4A, had a number of chances to pull the game out but sabotaged their own efforts. Playing without starting point guard Kevin Dorsey, the Spartans were called for traveling on consecutive possessions in overtime when it had a chance to pad a 52-50 lead.

After Kathleen took a 55-52 lead with 37 seconds left, Lakewood's Marcus Morrison (23 points) hit a 3-pointer.

Two more Kathleen free throws gave the Red Devils (14-3) the lead again, and after Marcus Morrison missed a 3-pointer, brother Sean was fouled with 4 seconds left.

His first missed free throw was waved off because Kathleen was called for "disconcerting the shooter", but Morrison failed to take advantage and missed the next two.

"Again tonight (with the free throws)," said Wright. "And the turnovers too. We had our opportunities. They got fouled and made their opportunities."

In regulation, Kathleen's Chris Richard tied the game at 50 with 1:58 remaining on a putback. Lakewood ran the clock down to 20 seconds before calling a timeout.

Maurice Robinson ended up taking the potential winning shot but it was short and Richard grabbed the rebound with 3.1 seconds left.

On the inbounds play, Kathleen guard Chris Capko was called for a backcourt violation with 1.1 seconds left.

But Kory Crumbley's inbounds pass for an open Sean Morrison hit the rim, giving the ball back to Kathleen, which then did the exact same thing to give Lakewood another chance to win it.

Finally, the Spartans got the ball to Sean Morrison, but he missed an off-balance shot.

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