Last-second shot ends boys’ year

By: Sean Moylan
   Ever since team sports began, there have always been heartbreaking losses.
   But last Thursday in Manasquan, the Florence Township Memorial High boys’ varsity basketball team set a new standard for heartbreakers with a 53-51 NJSIAA Group I Central Jersey second-round loss to Academy Charter.
   "We were up (51-50) with two seconds left and we had the ball and we turned it over," said Florence head coach Cesar Pereda.
   A far as the Flashes were concerned, Ludner Innocent was guilty of stealing the game away from them because he was the one who stole the inbounds pass and hoisted up a halfcourt prayer of 3-point shot at the buzzer to win it for Academy Charter.
   Although it was a see-saw game most of way, Florence had seemingly all but locked it up in the closing minutes.
   "We were down by four at the half," said Perada, whose team had a 7-point edge with two minutes to go. "But with a little more than a minute left, we were up by six."
   Although Florence missed a couple of foul shots down the stretch the contest that could have possibly iced it, it was a controversial play in the closing minute which hurt even more.
   "It was a crazy ending," noted Pereda. "There were maybe 30 seconds left and we were up by three (when the play happened)."
   According to Pereda, the Flashes inbounded the basketball and Academy Charter defenders appeared to have fouled the Florence player with the ball in order to stop the clock. But not only was no foul called, Academy Charter got the ball back and scored a bucket to set up Innocent’s "not so Innocent" last shot.
   "We thought we had it but it’s a lesson learned. It’s not over until it’s over," said Pereda, quoting an old wise man by the name of Yogi Berra.
   Academy Charter was a two seed while Florence was seeded 7th. But as everyone knows those kind of things mean nothing to the Flashes, who have overcome much greater odds to win big ball games.
   The Flashes, however, were hurt when senior center, Malcolm Jenkins, who scored a team-high 15 points, fouled out. Even with great shooting nights by Brandin Youngblood (13 points) and Stevie "The Wonder" Giambrone (11 points) Florence couldn’t quite hold on at the end. Marcus Curry (8 points) and Quentin Loftin (4 points) were the team’s other scorers.
   "We were a better team than they were. We tried to press them (most of the game)," said Pereda, who led the Flashes to a 13-10 record and a second-round playoff game (Florence beat Bound Brook in its first game) in his first year coaching the squad. "They just kept on launching them up."
   Unfortunately, Academy Charter’s last launch found its mark and ruined what would have been a big win for Florence.