By TONY BELLISSIMO
The Tigers trailed previously undefeated Blind Brook by nine points after a sloppy third quarter saw them outscored by a 10-4 margin. It was their first game in 19 days, and for the first 24 minutes the rustiness showed.
I looked up at the scoreboard after the third quarter and we had only 21 points, Coach Jeff Weiss said. We were playing sloppy basketball and I wasn't so sure we could catch them. I didn't really say too much before the fourth quarter started. We made a small adjustment with our press and I just told the kids to go out there and play ball.
And play they did.
Lawrence Woodmere Academy's display of teamwork over the final eight minutes was something special, and as it turned out it was enough to get it past the Trojans to claim the team's second Federation title in four seasons.
The Tigers scored 23 points in the fourth, including a remarkable 16-0 run, to beat Blind Brook, 44-39. Junior Daniel Hawkins, who led LWA with 12 points, hit a running jumper in the lane with 1:56 left to give the Tigers their first lead. Baskets by senior Carl Benn (nine points) and senior George Riley capped the 16-point spurt and took the wind out of the Trojans' sails.
When it got close they didn't know how to react, Weiss said. Looking back, all the tough competition and close games we played during the season really helped us down the stretch. Forty-four points was by far our lowest output of the season, but fortunately it was enough.
Tournament MVP, senior Chad Davis, had eight points and 11 rebounds for the Tigers, who finished the season with an overall record of 25-4. Tarik Viaer-McClymont, who stands 6-foot-8, added eight points and 11 rebounds, while senior Matt Friedman's lone basket was a clutch three-pointer.
The first three quarters were frustrating, Weiss explained. We're a fast-starting team and they did a good job right from the opening tip. Our guys were playing hard, but our offense was fragmented. It wasn't smooth until late in the game.
Not to make excuses, but I think the layoff and the arena setting were factors.
Viaer-McClymont, who had five of his rebounds in the fourth, was in foul trouble throughout the contest and fouled out with two minutes remaining. Friedman filled in at center during crunch time and got the job done.
This was a senior-oriented team and the goal from Day One was to win the Federation title, Weiss said. They're all hard-working, wonderful and well-deserving kids. I'm proud of them.
