NORTH BETHESDA, Md. – The longest year just ended.
Make that in joyous exultation for Montverde (Fla.) Academy.
After earning the label of big-game chokers, the Eagles earned redemption in a familiar way, shedding the dreaded tag Saturday afternoon at Georgetown Prep’s Hanley Center.
And, it came from the hand of a most-unlikely hero, a player that did not endure the heartache of the past, but blazed his own trail to immorality in the schoolboy basketball annals.
Yes, Jalyn Patterson, isn’t normally one of the top five options for coach Kevin Boyle’s team, heck, he doesn’t even start. But Patterson’s right hand must have been sprinkled with pixy dust Saturday as the junior guard from Georgia drained a game-winning 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds remaining as Montverde, No. 3 in the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 rankings stunned No. 2 St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.), 67-65, in the championship game of the National High School Invitational.
A year ago, Montverde lost to Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) in overtime at the NHSI final. The Eagles spit up a big lead late in regulation; only to see their title hopes go down the hole in the extra session.
In a wild final 15 seconds, Tyler Ennis hit a three-pointer giving the Gray Bees a temporary 65-64 edge. Montverde’s All-American point guard Kasey Hill quickly pushed the ball down court and spotted Patterson on the right baseline.
“I knew when the shot left his hand it was good,” Boyle said.
Amid a forest of outstretched arms tt hit the bottom of the well with 2.2 seconds.
Swish.
It also touched off a cathartic celebration, giving Boyle, who two years ago was hired away from St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.), the elusive “national championship” according some that he needed to complete his coaching dossier.
So, why wasn’t Patterson on the floor earlier?
“Well, he plays behind Kasey Hill,” Boyle said, grinning. “He’s not even our third, fourth or fifth option. But he stepped and made a big shot.”
Did he ever.
In the weeks leading up to the NHSI, Patterson spent endless hours honing his perimeter game. Boyle thinks Patterson, who previously attended powerhouse Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.), is a “mid-major guard” but could go higher. Patterson will get plenty of looks this summer and next high school season when the Eagles will almost certainly return as the nation’s preseason No. 1.
Coincidentally, that was Patterson lone basket. He finished with five points, making 1 of 3 from beyond the arc in 14 minutes.
The pregame chatter didn’t necessarily surround the players, but the New Jersey raised coaches, who grew up a long jumper from each other.
The coaches were familiar with one another. Boyle was a prolific scorer at Clark Regional in the early 1980s while Mark Taylor prepped two towns over at St. Joseph’s in Metuchen. Eventually Boyle accepted a scholarship to Seton Hall but later transferred to Saint Peter’s of the MAAC, where Taylor was playing at Fordham.
It appeared Taylor’s squad was in control, leading 49-41 with eight minutes left.
Early in the third, Ennis, the smooth guard headed to Syracuse, was whistled for his third. Super Australian sophomore Ben Simmons’ lay-in beat the buzzer, pulling the Eagles within eight points.
That inspired play continued in the fourth when the Eagles made it 54-51 as D’Angelo Russell and Miguel Cartegena nailed 3-pointers as St. Benedict’s was unraveling.
Sophomore Isaiah Briscoe (11 points) took it hard to rim, slicing through the Montverde defense for a 12-point lead, 32-20, with 1:48 left in the half. Moments later Jonathan Williams breezed coast to coast, giving St. Benedict’s a 36-22 halftime lead.
Here were the important first-half numbers:
Mike Young provided 15 points, making all six shots, and the Gray Bees canned 13 of 24 shots, mostly in transition. Montverde committed nine turnovers and were 3 of 12 on free throws. Simmons picked up three fouls in 12 minutes off the bench and Kentucky-bound center Dakari Johnson had two.
It also hampered Montverde’s fullcourt pressure defense, which rarely had a chance to set, when the shooting was frosty (9 of 26 for 34.6 percent).
The Gray Bees meant business in the opening quarter, unleashing a potent up-tempo attack. Young accounted for eight points and Ennis added six when the New Jersey school took a 16-9 lead. Young’s hammer-dunk late in the stanza finished a quick lead pass that shook the rim.
Boyle substituted liberally late in the quarter, saving the legs of his team, which was playing a third high intensity game in less than 48 hours.
It saved the Eagles, who used a 27-16 fourth-quarter showing to win it. Hill finished with 19 points and MVP Johnson had 18 points and eight rebounds.
Young, who will play for hometown Pittsburgh next year, totaled 19 points, making 8 of 10 shots, and snared 11 rebounds and Ennis added 15 points, six boards and dropped five dimes for the Gray Bees.
Editor’s note: The final Blue Star Go-To boys’ rankings will be released Wednesday.
