What a Game! 7/5 Recap

What a Game!

Incredible Buzzer-Beater gives Syracuse Elite 82-80 Victory

What started out as a run of the mill basketball game turned into so much more Wednesday night at Notre Dame High School. Syracuse Elite, a group of Syracuse ballers took on Utica Select, a team led by Syracuse forward James Southerland.

Syracuse Elite controlled the game throughout, building a ten point lead with forty seconds left in the first half. Foreshadowing what would happen in the fourth quarter, Utica Select went on a 5-0 run to end the half behind timely shooting and key turnovers that cut the lead to 36-31.

Syracuse Elite were up as many as 12 points. After a double technical foul in the fourth quarter that put Syracuse Elite’s point guard out of the game, Utica Select went on their run. With 8 minutes to go, a layup by Utica Select’s Teandre Richardson made the lead 65-62.

With 6:18 remaining in the fourth, the game was tied. That’s when the fun began. Back and forth the teams went, putting on offensive clinics. Each team hit an array of shots: step backs, layups, pull up three’s, etc.. Every time a team scored, the other team would answer with an offensive firework of their own.

At the 4:30 mark, Utica Select saw their first lead of the game after a layup by Southerland. A put back dunk by Southerland followed by a steal by Richardson put Utica Select up by 2. Southerland then extended the lead to 75-69 with three foul shots.

Back came Syracuse Elite with a vengeance. The visitors scored a mind-boggling 11 points in 32 seconds, starting with a three pointer to cut the lead to 3 at the 1:09 mark and tying the game at 80-80 with 37 seconds remaining.

As the teams gathered for a timeout at the 18 second mark, Syracuse Elite’s Chris Martin went off, yelling at Utica Select to give the ball to Southerland in an isolation situation. Martin did not get what he wanted, as the ball went to a Utica Select guard, who was fouled on his way to the basket.

Utica Select missed both free throws, and down came Syracuse Elite.  With three seconds remaining in regulation, a shot went up, Martin out-rebounded Southerland, took one dribble, stepped back and threw up a prayer from the baseline about 8 feet away from the basket just before the buzzer sounded.

The ball seemed to hit every part of the rim before dropping in. Syracuse Elite erupted in celebration, and Utica Select, being the classy team they are, congratulated Martin and Syracuse Elite on a game well played.

Mel Bronson was the leading scorer for Syracuse Elite, finishing with 19 points. Martin had 17 points and 3 steals. Southerland led all scorers with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Richardson finished with 19 points and 7 rebounds.

Up next for Syracuse Elite are 99 problems. The game will be played July 11^th at 8:00 P.M. Utica Select will take on the Dream Chasers Monday, July 9^th at 6:45 P.M. Both games will be played at Notre Dame High School.