Never doubt the SJAM Highlanders (like this guy did) come playoff time.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Waterloo school find themselves in the WCSSAA Senior Boys basketball championship game after upsetting the second-seeded Forest Heights Trojans, 61-56, in overtime on Saturday evening at Cameron Heights.
The game was close throughout, with the Highlanders holding a three-point lead at the end of each of the first three quarters (12-9, 21-18, 32-29). The Trojans employed a 1-3-1 zone that, though it caused some problems initially, actually seemed to help the 'Landers slow the pace of the game to their liking.
SJAM, in fact, would take a 6-point lead late in the final frame only to see the Trojans battle all the way back. Kieran McAndrew tied things up at 47-47 after a clutch three-pointer from the corner with just over 1:00 to play. The Highlanders wouldn't quit though --- and Theshawn Berry drove the lane and was fouled (converting both free throws) to extend back out to a 49-47 lead.
The Trojans' star guard, Javon Masters, knocked in two free throws of his own a few seconds later to tie things back up at 49-49.
SJAM would hold for the final shot, which ended up being a missed-three pointer from the corner from Connor Bradley. Edem Ame, who was a beast on the glass all night for SJAM, missed a tip in opportunity and then Forest Heights' Paul Anderson actually got off a pretty decent three-point heave at the buzzer from well beyond midcourt that just went off the front of the rim.
That sent things to overtime, where the Highlanders controlled things for much of the extra four minute session. Some excellent passing against the zone allowed for converted layups by Edem Ame and Quinn Turner, and SJAM held a 55-51 lead with just under a minute to go.
However, it was the hustle plays by some lesser-used Highlanders that helped keep the Trojans at bay. George Makres, in for the (then) fouled-out Theshawn Berry, hauled in a huge defensive rebound on a Javon Masters missed-three pointer that would have cut things down to one. Sayyad Bacchus, a grade ten student brought up from the (eliminated) SJAM junior team, also played solid minutes (including some late in the game).
After a couple of converted free-throws, Juwan Miller made 2-of-2 for the Trojans after driving the lane, which cut things back down to 4. The Trojans would get a key turnover off the inbounds, but would send things right back to SJAM with a turnover of their own --- missing out on a huge opportunity there.
Edem Ame essentially iced things by draining two more free-throws (he was actually 13-for-15 from the line on the evening) with under :30 to play. If that wasn't enough, Ame then stole the Trojans' inbounds pass and was fouled again --- converting two more freebies and putting things completely out of reach with :20 left and the Highlanders up 61-53.
Paul Anderson would drill a three-pointer for FHCI in the closing seconds to round out the scoring.
Edem Ame was, far and away, the player of the game in this one. He was a beast on the glass and a whirling dervish in the paint (converting some acrobatic lay-ins) to finish with a game-high 27 points and 13 rebounds. Ben Reyhani had an 15 more for SJAM.
In a tight game, they always talk about the importance of free-throw shooting, and SJAM was unbelievable from the stripe all night long. They finished 23-of-26 (88.4% !) from the line, and included in those attempts were many pressure free-throws. That free-throw shooting helped to make up for the fact that the Highlanders, who are normally a prolific three-point shooting team, did not have one three-point field goal (0-for-12) in the contest.
Rounding out the SJAM scorers were Theshawn Berry and Quinn Turner (8 each), Sayyad Bacchus with 2, and Jordan James with 1.
The Trojans were led by Javon Masters, who kept his team around with some timely baskets and finished with a team-high 18. Keiran McAndrews had a very solid effort (16 points and 8 rebounds), while Juwan Miller, who hours earlier competed with the Trojans' junior squad, finished with 8 points.
The Forest Heights' scoring was rounded out by Srdjan Stanviuk (5) and Gage Paquette (2).
Boxscore
SJAM 12-09-11-17-12 = 61
FHCI 09-09-11-20-07 = 56
SJAM (61)
B. Reyhani 5-15 FG, 5-5 FT, 2 Reb, 1 Ast - 15 Pts.
E. Ame 7-19 FG, 13-15 FT, 13 Reb, 1 Ast - 27 Pts.
J. James 0-2 FG, 1-2 FT, 1 Reb, 0 Ast - 1 Pt.
T. Berry 3-8 FG, 2-2 FT, 6 Reb, 1 Ast - 8 Pts.
Q. Turner 3-9 FG, 2-2 FT, 7 Reb, 0 Ast - 8 Pts.
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S. Bacchus 1-2 FG, 0-0 FT, 0 Reb, 0 Ast - 2 Pts.
C. Bradley 0-4 FG, 0-0 FT, 3 Reb, 1 Ast - 0 Pts.
M. Khalid 0-0 FG, 0-0 FT, 0 Reb, 0 Ast - 0 Pts.
G. Makres 0-0 FG, 0-0 FT, 1 Reb, 0 Ast - 0 Pts.
Field Goals: 19-59 (.322). Free-Throws: 23-26 (.884). Three-Point Goals, 0-12, .000 (E. Ame 0-3, C. Bradley 0-3, B. Reyhani 0-6).
Forest Heights (56)
K. McAndrew 6-10 FG, 3-6 FT, 8 Reb, 0 Ast - 16 Pts.
S. Stanviuk 1-4 FG, 3-4 FT, 0 Reb, 1 Ast - 5 Pts.
J. Masters 6-20 FG, 4-5 FT, 2 Reb, 2 Ast - 18 Pts.
G. Paquette 0-4 FG, 2-2 FT, 7 Reb, 1 Ast - 2 Pts.
P. Anderson 3-9 FG, 0-0 FT, 3 Reb, 0 Ast - 7 Pts.
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J. Falkenstern 0-1 FG, 0-0 FT, 3 Reb, 0 Ast - 0 Pts.
J. Miller 2-6 FG, 3-4 FT, 1 Reb, 2 Ast - 8 Pts.
D. George 0-0 FG, 0-0 FT, 0 Reb, 0 Ast - 0 Pts.
J. Roberts 0-0 FG, 0-0 FT, 0 Reb, 0 Ast - 0 Pts.
Field Goals: 18-54 (.333). Free-Throws: 15-21 (.714). Three-Point Goals, 5-14, .357 (J. Masters 2-6, J. Miller 1-1, P. Anderson 1-2, K. McAndrew 1-4, S. Stanviuk 0-1).
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