The Story of A True Patriot’s Rally
As the basketball season comes to an end, the members of modern media would like to recap the last five games and go over some of the new found memories and brotherhood of Open Door Christian Basketball.
After a 7 game losing streak, our Patriots were desperate for a rally to revive their winning record and finish the season over .500 in the win category. After falling to Brookside off a missed buzzer beater, missing a starter and the replacement being sick, the Patriots were losing hope. Thanks to a dedicated coaching staff, and motivated players, Clearview High School became their Target heading into week 14 of the season. With an astounding 62-59 win, the Patriots turned the corner, heading into their next matchup that Saturday against St. Peter High School, a game that was cancelled due to snow on the 13th earlier that February. With all of their starters back for the first time in three games and a win against St. Peter (58-41) was a momentum builder that carried them through the season.
The next week the Patriots found themselves without a game, and spent a total of 5 straight practice days, tightening their mechanics on the court and improving their ability on the defensive end specifically, to prepare for a back-to-back-to-back the upcoming weekend.
Kicking off that Thursday night was a home game against Danbury, a team that has been within a 5 point margin the past 4 meetings. 3 of which were game winning shots or buzzer beaters, going both ways. The game started off shaky for the Patriots. Pat’s forward Danny DeFranco says that, “they went on a first quarter run, but in between quarters we figured out how to fire back”. The Patriots ending the first quarter down 24-20, the coach’s voice could be heard throughout the gym due to his frustration with his team’s lack of effort. It is safe to say that the Patriots cleaned their act up after that, going into halftime up 38-34. The win was in the Patriots grasp, closing the fourth quarter with a 23-3 run, ending the game with a 76-62 Patriots victory, finally putting them into the win category with their record being 10-9
That next day the Patriots pulled off a 69-39 blowout victory against Brooklyn High School.. Their next opponent was Black River High School which would be the most challenging game in their 3 game series, and form memories that will last a lifetime. The Patriots held their own, staying within a 8 point margin of the Black River Pirates through the 3rd quarter. In the fourth quarter the game was tied more than half of the quarter. With the game tied, their opponent hit a clutch corner three. With 4 seconds left, Gavin “Do It All” Dobbins, took matters into his own hand and hit a buzzer 3 point shot to send the game into overtime. Kicking off overtime the Patriots traded baskets with the Pirates, with a short jumper from Black River and a steal from Kevan Ford going into a layup tying the game up one final time. With 1 minute left in overtime, the referee called a charge on Gavin Dobbins, fouling him out of the game. After two made free throws from the Pirates, guard Jaiden Howard hit a floater in the lane to tie the game up. With barely any time on the clock, and the game tied, the ball was kicked out to the corner by Danny DeFranco where Mitchell Wiley happened to be, and he hit the three point shot to put the Patriots up 3, to win the game. Headlining the newspaper as one of the best games of the season, the Patriots 5 game win streak was the rally they needed.
With a 12-9 record, and a new found bond between teammates, the Open Door Christian School Patriots learned to work together and trust each other to overcome the downpour of a losing record.
By: Kevan Ford and Danny DeFranco