Loss to Roosevelt brings Boys’ Varsity Basketball to the end of the road

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Photo Submitted by Katie Braman

Junior Dalante Peyton keeps the ball from Roosevelt.

Breandan Gibbons, Contributor

The Boys Basketball season ended in a heartbreaking fashion on Mar. 3 with their 57-59 loss to the Minneapolis Roosevelt Teddies. The Teddies started off the game hot from behind the three point line and seemed as if they couldn’t miss – they hit 12 threes throughout the whole game. They took a 32-24 lead into the break. SPA was able to claw their way back into the game almost immediately coming out of the half. They were not hindered by Roosevelt’s pressure which they used almost every possession. Junior Ryan Peacock was able to take advantage of this pressure-D because of his speed.

After the Spartans took a five point lead, the score yo-yoed. The Teddies regained their seven point lead, then SPA got a four point lead, and then Roosevelt got a five point lead. Then, coming down the stretch, SPA jumped out to a three point lead with about a minute left. This lead was cut to one, when senior Abdulsalan Osman was stuck in the corner. Then, Coach Kevin McKenzie called a timeout with 24 seconds left. Coming out of the timeout junior Kent Hanson got the ball, was fouled on, and then drained the two free throws. Roosevelt scored on the following possession.

With eight seconds left, neither team had a timeout, SPA tried to inbound the ball with the Teddies playing their high pressure defense. Junior Kent Hanson, then threw the ball deep to senior Abdulsalan Osman, who caught the ball past half-court. Teddie’s player Elijah Hannah Jr. latched on and threw Osman to the ground and signaled, and yelled for an excessive timeout. According to MSHSL rules, when an excessive timeout is signaled the timeout must be granted, however the team that signals for the timeout is called for a technical foul. So, SPA should have been given two free throws and the ball with 6 seconds remaining. However, this didn’t happen and Hannah realized they didn’t have a timeout, so he threw the ball towards Arione Farrar Jr. who had been lights out from three and had ice water in his veins. Farrar threw up the three with four seconds left and was banged home as the buzzer went off.

Dalante Peyton led all scorers with 21 points, and drained home 5 threes. Roosevelts’ Arione Farrar Jr. hit 6 from behind the arc, including the game winner, which accounted for 18 of his 20 points. Abdulsalan Osman was able to exploit Roosevelt’s lack of size and put home 13 points.

It was a crushing end to high school careers for all of the seniors. However, it was the culmination of four years of hard work, effort, and determination. These seniors have been one  of the most successful classes in SPA history. They have gotten a section championship, the team’s first state tournament appearance, and a conference championship. In the past three years in which members of the class of 2015 have played, the Spartans have accrued a record of 47-38 with their record improving each year.