United Faith 31 - Arborbrook 27
This is what basketball is all about. A nail biter, pure excitement, and if you can believe it, the game was actually closer than the 4 point margin at the end of the game. The stands were packed with fans from both teams, the noise level was as loud as a high school game, and both teams played well, very well. United Faith has a proven basketball program at all levels and this was Arborbrooks’s 2nd game, ever. We lost on the scoreboard but that is the only area we came up short. The players, the fans, and the coaches all came up winners and once again, I am proud to be a part of this program.
The first quarter started out slowly for us. We were uncomfortable with the gym and the noise level and fell behind 7-2. Everything changed at the beginning of the 2nd quarter. We gained our confidence, started playing a more aggressive defense, boxed out, and shots started to drop. We took an 8-7 lead with 2 minutes left in the half, added another basket on a dazzling pass from Daniel Zangmeister to Nate Johnson and went into the locker room with a 10-7 advantage.
The 3rd quarter was one of the best quarters of basketball that you will see at any level. We came out smoking. Nate Johnson hit four straight baskets, one on a tremendous pass from Mitch Moore, two on steals, and one on a rebound that he took coast to coast. Anyone who has not seen Nate play is missing a future star of the game. Our lead was 18-10 and we were sky high. Basketball, however, is a game of runs. United Faith hit a 3 pointer, had 3 steals and in the blink of an eye, our 18-10 lead turned into a 20 -18 deficit. We regained our composure and watched as Mitch Moore was fouled late in the quarter. Mitch calmly stepped to the line, hit two perfect free throws, the ball never touched the rim, the game was tied and the noise level went up another notch. The game should have gone into the 4th quarter tied at 20. Strange things happen in basketball. The United Faith point guard crossed center court, dribbled a little to the right, and threw up an off balance bad shot. The ball clanged off the backboard and went threw the hoop.
We were down 23 – 20 but our spirit had not died and we were confident of victory. Mitch Moore made the defensive play of the game. A guard from United Faith stole the ball and was on his way in for an uncontested lay up. Mitch came from half court and blocked the shot from behind. I am not sure if Mitch jumped higher blocking the shot or after the shot when he realized the referee called it a clean block.
Nate Johnson scored a basket and hit 3 free throws which kept the game tied at 25. United Faith took a 27-25 lead with less than 2 minutes to go. Josh Black stole the ball and made a driving layup that tied the game with less than a minute to go. Did I mention that strange things happen in basketball . One of the United Faith players found himself trapped at the three point line. With no outlet pass available, he threw up an off balance bad shot that clanged off the backboard and went in. The situation was not good. We had committed only 2 team fouls and there was 19 seconds left in the game. We finally got a United Faith player to the line and he hit one of two free throws but only 5 seconds were left. Joel VanDusen threw a long pass to Nate Johnson who squared up behind the three point line, tried to draw a foul and shot. The shot missed but Mitch Moore rebounded in the left cornor and put up his own 3 point shot which found the net, unfortunately a second too late. The game was over, we were 4 short on the scoreboard but we did not lose. Nate Johnson finished the game with 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals.
Just think, we get to do this again Tuesday.
