(LA PLUME, Pa.) – It was a comeback for the ages as Wilson overcame a 23-point deficit with 12:38 to go to defeat Keystone by one in a nail-biter on Saturday afternoon.
Gary Robertson (Sr., Washingotn, D.C. / Potomac / Bryant & Stratton) provided the heroics as his jumper with 7.5 seconds left gave the Phoenix the go ahead score while an
Ibraheem Bundu (Sr., Bowie, Md. / Largo / CCBC Dundalk) block prevented the Giants from returning the favor on the opposite end as time expired.
The win gave Wilson one of its largest comebacks in program history and puts the Blue and White in second place in the Skye Division standings with four games left in the regular season.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 67, Keystone 66
Venue: Gambal Athletic Center
Records: Wilson 11-10, 9-3 Skye; Keystone 8-13, 8-5 Skye
How It Happened
- It was a close game for the first half as a Tyrik Ward-Hoyte (Jr., Baltimore, Md. / Phelps / Clinton) layup on a dish from Bundu tied the game at 24-all with 3:37 to go in the first half. At that time the Giants started to generate some momentum and closed the frame with an 8-2 run. That push fed into the second half as the lead started to balloon up for the Giants. Despite an Ethan Wilson (Jr., Manassas / Osbourn Park / Howard C.C.) 3-pointer in the opening minute, Keystone went on a 19-4 run capped by a Brandon Scott dunk over the next seven minutes to go up 56-33 with 12:38 to go.
- As the old adage goes, it's not how you start, but how you finish. Proving they weren't about to give up, Robertson started the comeback streaking down the paint for a layup and converted the and-one free throw after he was fouled on the play. After forcing a turnover, the Phoenix continued to get fired up as Robertson found Trea Keys (Jr., Columbia, Md. / Wilde Lake / Howard C.C.) for an open layup to get back under 20 at 56-38 with 11:48 left.
- Keystone made the next basket, but the spark was already lit for the Phoenix's fireworks. What followed was a 25-4 run over the next 9:43 to take the lead. Darren Green (Jr., Silver Spring, Md. / Springbrook) further added to the momentum shift with a steal and layup before he pulled down a defensive rebound that lead to a deuce by Ward-Hoyte to make the score 58-44.
- Keys stayed in the mix with a 3-pointer on a Robertson assist, and the duo connected again for an unconventional 3-point play where Keys scored on a layup and hit the and-one free throw just as the clock ticked under five minutes. After a Giants layup, a Darryl Garib (Sr., Dallas, Texas / Forest Park) jumper, a pair of Ward-Hoyte free throws, and rebound and put-back by Ward-Hoyte completed the comeback and gave Wilson a 63-62 lead with 85 seconds left on the clock.
- Reigning conference player of the year Jack Anderson put the Giants back up by one with a trey to make the score 66-65 with 38 seconds to go which forced Wilson to call a timeout. With the shot clock expiring, Robertson went down the left lane and went high off the glass for the go-ahead layup. After rushing up the court and missing a quick 3-point attempt, a last-second attempt was swatted away by Bundu at the buzzer.
Inside The Numbers
- Wilson shot 42.4% for the game, but shot 61.1% during the final 11:08 of the contest. Conversely, Keystone shot 45.0% in the game, but were 3-of-12 down the stretch.
- Ward-Hoyte led the team with 15 points and was 6-of-10 from the field. Keys was one point behind him with 14 marking the second time this season he's scored in double-figures.
- Robertson and Garib both finished with a baker's dozen each. Robertson was also busy setting up the rest of the offense with a team-high eight assists. Garib shot with his usual consistency where he was 5-of-11 from the field.
- Bundu had a big day defensively as he pulled down eight boards for co-game high honors. He added four blocks, including one on a last second attempt by Keystone to win the game.
- Wilson edged the Giants 38-34 in the rebounding department.
Up Next
Wilson will host Cairn in a rescheduled contest on Monday. Tip-off with the Highlanders is set for 7 p.m.
