The Panthers of Chesapeake, did their part.
The seniors on this year's Panthers' Varsity had never lost a game in their high school careers in the Field House's premier high school event. Rival Fairland, did their best to taint 'Peake's seniors' memories of their days in there. Austin McMaster, decided he was going to be a 'Dragon slayer'.
However, Fairland was not going to go down without a fight.
Fairland's Nathan Campbell hit a 75 footer as time expired in the 3rd, to get his team within 4 of the Panthers. The anxiety was just starting for Chesapeake at that moment
McMaster and his co-horts doned their swords when it mattered most, which was when the Dragons' defense forced them to find another way to beat them other than on McMaster's shoulders in the 4th., and threatened various times to be on the verge of overcoming the Panthers' lead.
Patrick Hintz(17 pts.) and Eric Kennedy(14 pt., 12 in 4th quarter) stepped up to take on the task of keeping the Dragons at bay. It's a good thing too. , and Hintz and Kennedy were going to have to come up big for the Panthers.
Both teams played a 4th quarter that was some of the best this tournament, and building, had ever seen. Fairland keep charging, getting within a score an various points in the final quarter. However, each and every time they threatened, the Panthers had an answer.
One such time, which was the last, was when Evan Maddox hit a 3 to pull the dragons within 2 for the final time. With the score 55-53, and momentum shifting towards Fairland, Chesapeake mounted for one last charge in Memorial Field House.
After the Maddox three, 'Peake put together a 10-2 run, that this time, the Dragons had no answer for. Chesapeake pulled away into a double-digit lead, and once again left the Field House as champions.
So, The Panthers say good-bye to Veteran's Memorial in the only appropriate way they could have. Going out the doors one last time, winning their 4th straight St. Joe's Invitational.
Austin McMaster finished with 20 points, and was named as tournament MVP.
In consolation game action, Spring Valley beat Mountain Mission(Va.) 74-59. Eli Parker led the Timberwolves, and all scorers, with 26. Parker scored 10 of those points to spearhead a run that led to SVHS pulling away from Mountain Mission, and securing the win.
So ends the St. Joe's Invitational at the Field House, held there since 1978. Fortunately, the wrecking ball that will strike the VMFH, does not spell the end for the annual event. Event organizers have already announced that the tournament will be moving to the Big Sandy Superstore Arena starting next year.
Hopefully, the atmosphere goes with the event, and the student sections, with their rehearsed-chants and skits, as well as coming in themed costumes, is as much part of the event as the gym shorts and tube socks. The kids in the Field House were insane, way before Cameron got crazy.
No comments:
Post a Comment