Last Second Layup Makes Panthers NYCAL Champs
The varsity basketball team came back from an 8-point deficit with 45 seconds to go to beat Columbia Prep in the NYCAL title game, Feb. 24, 2020. (Al Pareira)
Down by 8 points with 44 seconds remaining, against the #1 seed Columbia Prep Lions, a comeback is tantalizing, but seems impossible. But don’t count the Panthers out until the very end.
Newly minted 2,000-point scorer Alexander L. ’20 finds Jasper S.M. ’22 in the corner for a three. 36 seconds are left on the game clock. Browing’s coaching staff, led by Head Coach Gerald Colds and Assistant Coaches Michael Cohn and Sankara Iwelu, call a timeout.
Jasper follows the timeout, along with Jesse S. ’20, Max B. ’20, William H ’20, and Alex, with a full-court press. Jasper intercepts the pass, and gives a well-timed bounce pass to Alex, who puts up the layup. The score is suddenly 56-53.
The Panthers foul a player on the opposing team, sending him to the free throw line. He misses his free throw. Alex grabs the board, and his coaches call a timeout, giving the players a breather, as well as moving the ball to half court.
The ball is kicked out to Max, but the three pointer is off. The Panthers fight for the rebound, and eventually Alex gets it to Jesse, and he knocks the three down.
The Browning fan base and bench explode. Everyone is on their feet, applauding the basketball played by their school. The score is now 56-56 with 11 seconds left.
The ball is inbounded to the Columbia Prep point guard, who attempts to push the ball. The ball is lobbed up to another player, but Alex’s basketball IQ is too strong to let the pass go through. He hurries to the rock, and earns himself a steal.
The Panthers’ transition game is strong, and Alex finishes an and 1 layup. His free throw is a swish, the type of play that silences an opposing crowd. And that’s exactly what he did. The score is now 59-56, with half a second left. The Lions’ half court heave is barely off.
The Panthers are NYCAL champions, for the second year in a row. And isn’t it interesting that Alex has hit the last second game winner in both? Coincidence? I think not.
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