Spencer Hodge Drains
Basket At Buzzer To Lead Eagles to Victory
34-33 Over Wescott
Middle
School Basketball - Seventh Grade Boys
December 2, 2008
By David Field
Pandemonium breaks
out as the Eagles celebrate Spencer Hodge's basket
at the buzzer for the win. Photo by David Field
Westbrook ME: Windham
Middle School downs Wescott Junior High 34-33 on
Hodge's buzzer beater in seventh grade boys
basketball action on Tuesday.
“The first game of the year always brings out the
jitters in the players. In the pre-game talk, I
told the boys to do their best to settle themselves
down early and adjust to the game as it goes. We
were unable to do much in the first quarter, but
were lucky in that Westbrook couldn't do much
either. The intensity the boys came out with in the
second quarter was superb. We executed our offense
and did an excellent job helping one another on the
defensive end.” Adam Manzo
#33 Jack Herzig
goes in for a lay-up. Herzig had four points on the
day, all from free throws. Photo by David Field
The
first half was a low scoring battle. It seemed the
jitters had to be more than worked out. The score
after seven minutes was Wescott 3, Windham 2. The
second quarter opened up a little bit more and in
favor of the Eagles. Spencer Hodge found a groove
and put in ten points to help put the Eagles up 16
to 5.
Alex Barris brings
the ball up in the fourth quarter for the Eagles.
Photo by David Field
“The second half was a tremendous struggle on both
ends of the court. We allowed them to come all the
way back and take a 5 point lead with a little over
3 minutes to go.” Coach Manzo
The
second half was a new game. Wescott came out and
played ball like they hadn’t before. Again, with
the mandatory play requirement behind them and size
on their side, they capitalized. At the end of the
third the score was Wescott 25, Windham 24. It was
a new game.
Coach Manzo talks
to his players during a break in the action. Photo
by David Field
“The boys definitely picked up their intensity and
came up with some key rebounds. In my mind the
turning point came when Westbrook was called for an
offensive foul around half court. They had a lead
and we were ready to foul and send them to the line
and make them earn it.” Adam Manzo
It
was a battle of swapping baskets. Wescott did
extend their lead by five but the Eagles still
battled. They got within three and Jack Herzig
drained two free throws to bring the game to within
a point. Wescott’s play had gotten a little
sloppy. Windham had turned to full court press and
had converted turnovers. After Wescott had scored a
basket, Windham brings up the ball....
“With 5 seconds left, I called a timeout to show the
boys the play and try and settle their nerves. I
emphasized the importance of getting the ball in and
driving strong to the hoop. We were fortunate to
get Spencer a decent look and left it up to him to
make it and lucky for us, he did. The boys really
fought hard and I couldn't be more proud of them. A
win like this can really do wonders for a team, so
hopefully this will be the building block to a
successful year.” Adam Manzo
Catch the Eagles this Thursday immediately following
the 8th Grade game at Windham MS Gym against Gorham.
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