Last Second Heroics Propel Spackle to Victory

- J. Andrew Lockwood -
Senior Editor / Sports Columnist
james.andrew.lockwood@student.mercer.edu

What a difference one player can make in a game.  In the Intramurals Co-Rec Game of the Week, it was a tale of two halves as #1 Spackle eeked by a talented #2 Pi Kapp-D1 squad.  Early on in the game, Pi Kapp-D1 established themselves in the paint, with 9 points coming from the hands of Dan Billings.  Pi Kapp-D1’s guard play was also tremendous, with Courtney Hall adding a pair of 4 pointers and Rich Pipe adding 7 more points to his team’s total before the first 20 minutes expired. 

            In fact, it had the makings of a blowout.  Leading by 9 points at halftime, Pi Kapp-D1 dominated the opening few minutes, out hustling Spackle and hitting their shots.  Basketball is a game of two halves though.

            Spackle’s Andy Stabell hit two big shots in the first half to help his team stay within a reasonable range going into the intermission, but little did anyone know that one player’s presence in the second half would completely change the dynamics of the game.  Ex-Mercer basketball player Andrew Brown showed up just as the second half began, entered the game, and helped his team slowly chip away at Pi Kapp-D1’s lead. 

            During the first 12 minutes of the second half, Spackle went on a 18-8 run to gain the lead with 8:34 left.  An electrifying three-pointer by Brown capped a tremendous comeback by Spackle and lifted the crowd to their feet.  The next few minutes were tense, with several lead changes, but Pi Kapp-D1 was able to pull even with a huge 4-pointer from Courtney Hall with 3.2 seconds left on the clock.

            With the score knotted at 55-55, everyone in the gym thought the game would be decided in overtime.  However, a controversial foul called on Pi Kapp-D1 as the ball was being brought down the court sent Andrew Brown to the charity stripe with a chance to win the game.  Brown hit the first and intentionally missed the second to give Spackle their first victory of the 2009 Co-Rec season. 

            “We came in with a game plan and executed,” said a jubilant Whitney Lang after the game.  The guard added, “We got pumped and held strong in the end.  Certainly give Pi Kapp-D1 credit, they brought out the best in us.”

            Lang would finish with 12 points while center Cristen Roper would tally 6 points for the night.  Billings would lead the way for Pi Kapp-D1, finishing with 13 points.  Courtney Hall also finished in double digits with 10 points in a losing effort.

            With the big win, Spackle will most likely retain their #1 ranking in the JAL Sports Net / Intramurals poll that comes out next week.  Pi Kapp-D1 may drop a spot or two, but even with an early season loss, they’re still one of the most talented Co-Rec teams this season.