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JERSEY CITY, N.J. - With about one
minute remaining and no shot clock in use, holding for a final shot must
have seemed like an eternity for Mount Vernon's boys basketball team.
Passing around a tightly guarded
perimeter, the Knights patiently prolonged the possession until the ball
got into the hands of star forward Kevin Jones in the right corner.
Sidestepping a defender toward the baseline, the senior found an
opening.
Jones, a veteran of pressurized
situations, didn't hesitate as he buried the 15-footer. While he knew
there was still plenty of time remaining, he also knew his team wouldn't
find a better look.
"We were just looking for a good
shot," said the West Virginia-bound Jones. "I wasn't shooting good all
game, but my teammates trusted me and got me the ball, and luckily I was
able to make it."
Jones' jumper with 20 seconds to play
broke a tie and wound up being the winning basket in Mount Vernon's
55-51 win over Union (N.J.) last night at the Jersey City Armory. The
game was part of the Dan Finn Classic, and since it was being played in
New Jersey, a no-shot-clock rule was in effect.
"That stinks," Mount Vernon coach Bob
Cimmino said of not playing with a shot clock. "New York is so far
ahead. But yeah, it's tough, because we're not used to it and you don't
know what to do."
Following a timeout by Mount Vernon
(10-2), Union still had a chance to tie or win the game, but Jordan
Lessane made a diving steal near the sideline. The junior alertly got
the ball to Jabarie Hinds, who dished it to Sherrod Wright for a
two-handed dunk to seal the victory.
Jones, who had 15 points, was named
the game's MVP, but he had plenty of competition for the award on his
own team. Wright added 15 points, six rebounds and four steals, and
Lessane tossed in 13 points, including three 3-pointers.
"Jordan's a shooter," Cimmino said.
"He's streaky, but when he gets in rhythm, there's nobody better."
Nobody seemed to be shooting well for
Mount Vernon from the free-throw line, however. The Knights missed on
their first 11 attempts as they fell behind 20-12 early in the second
quarter, and they finished 7 of 22 for the game.
"It's definitely something we've got
to work on, because teams are going to see it and start fouling us on
purpose," Jones said.
Although foul shooting is an area the
team has struggled in all season, Cimmino felt much better talking about
it after another win.
"I was happy that Union made its first
two attempts to start the third quarter, just to prove the basket didn't
have a lid on it," he joked.
Deion Nesmith led the Farmers (10-3)
with 15 points.
Mount Vernon trailed 37-33 midway
through the third quarter, but a 9-0 run that was keyed by Wright and
senior reserve Tyrone Mitchell gave the Knights a five-point edge
entering the fourth.
"Tyrone played very well today,"
Cimmino said. "He brought a lot of energy and he can catch the ball,
which is an underrated skill against a team with such a good pressure
defense." |
