Cougars lose heartbreaker to Cherokee, 63-62

Instead of the normal post-game write up, I thought I would just post some of my feelings on the game. I am sure there will be an interesting write up in the paper tomorrow that will chronicle exactly what happened, but for those who weren't able to attend the game I will provide a brief synopsis.

This game was honestly probably the most exciting regular season contest I have ever attended. It was up there with the Williamstown playoff basketball game last year- it was that type of atmosphere in the DiBart.

In the first half, the Cougars absolutely dominated, and I mean DOMINATED. Santo finished the first half with 28 points against arguably the best team in South Jersey. To score 28 points in a game versus Cherokee is terrific, but to do it all in one half, is unbelievable. At one point in the first half- and I do not have the exact number- Santo probably made ten field goals in a row. It was a remarkable display, and Santo finished the contest with 37 points on 14/17 shooting, 9/11 from the FT line, 13 rebounds, and five steals.

Seth Friedman continued his stellar play at point guard. He scored 9 points (on 3-3 three point shooting) and dished out 13 assists, including one phenomenal no look pass to Santo in the first half. On the pass, Friedman was driving to the basket, and while in mid air, made an adjustment, literally threw the ball over his shoulder while looking the other way to a wide open Santo, who scored the basket on a layup. Marc Schlessel hit some big three pointers and finished with 12 points. One of his three pointers put the Cougars up by 1 point late in the fourth quarter after Ben Gerstein made an amazing heads up play. Cherokee in-bounded the ball and Gerstein snuck behind Cherokee's point guard Willis Nicholson and stole the ball from him. That possession is when Schlessel hit the big three to put the Cougars up one. Jake Gurkin also played well. He only scored 4 points but he had some big rebounds on defense and did a good job in-bounding the ball against a tough Cherokee press.

After Cherokee's phenomenal senior point guard Willis Nicholson hit a three at the buzzer before half, the Cougars entered half time with a 7 point lead. Just so I do give credit where it is due, Nicholson's performance was on par with Santos today. Nicholson, who is widely regarded as the best point guard in South Jersey, showed why he has earned that reputation, as he hit 5 three pointers, shot 15/19 from the field, and scored 35 points.

To sum up the second half, Cherokee quickly made a comeback and after the third quarter, Cherokee led by two. The Cougars kept it up though and with 27 seconds left in the game, the Cougars were down one point and had the ball. The team called time out, and when play resumed, Friedman killed some clock at the top of the key, before driving to the basket with about 15 seconds remaining. Friedman tried to put up a shot but it was blocked by a Cherokee player. East fouled with 6.5 seconds remaining. The Cherokee player who went to the FT line missed both, and Santo rebounded the ball in traffic. All of a sudden, Santo fell to the floor and lost the ball. It looked as if Santo was fouled on the play, but it is difficult to know for sure from where I was sitting. Cherokee recovered the ball and that was the game.

This game was literally a heartbreaker, and everyone supporting East undoubtedly felt drained after the game. Perhaps my co-sports editor Mike Davis put it best when he whispered to me during the latter stages of the game, "I feel more nervous now than I did for my Bar Mitzvah." Quite frankly, I don't think he was exaggerating because I felt similar nerves. The entire fourth quarter my stomach was in knots.

But as hard as it may be for everyone who was at the game, forget the loss. A lot of good came out of this game. The Cougars lost by 1 point to arguably the best team in South Jersey. East controlled the entire first half, and after losing a 7 point lead, East made comeback after comeback, taking the lead numerous times in the second half. It is evident that the Cougars can keep up with any team in South Jersey, and should feel confident against any team they face going forward. If they can come this close to beating the best team in SJ-and they probably should have won- they can beat anyone.