Palladino: A classic game by any measure

By Joe Palladino

WATERBURY — The ball had not been tossed. Waterbury Career’s Jessah Doctor and Crosby’s Ivan Craig jostled for position around the center circle. Referee Brad Chernovich blew his whistle, rushed in, and settled the players.

The game had yet to begin, and one savvy basketball fan leaned over and said to another, “So it’s going to be like that tonight.”

He had no idea what was about to happen.

The Bulldogs and Spartans played four quarters of regulation and three overtimes. They combined for 248 points. Six players fouled out, three played with four fouls, and there was a technical foul called on Cosby coach Nick Augelli 2 minutes and 8 seconds into the game.

The Waterbury Career gymnasium was stuffed with close to 500 basketball fans, and they will never forget what they saw when Crosby defeated the Spartans, 125-123, in triple overtime extravaganza.

Someone, please place an emergency call to the Vatican. Ask if they have any miracles to loan out. I fear the Naugatuck Valley League used up its single-season allocation on Wednesday night.

WCA’s Jaden Battle (2) tries to drive to the basket between Crosby’s Miguel Rivera (4) and Jeremiah Kendall (11) during their game Wednesday at Waterbury Career Academy. Crosby went on to win 125-123.
Jim Shannon Republican-American

Fans and players alike said it was the best game they have either seen or played in. Career’s Matt Torres, who scored 36 points on nine 3-point field goals, boldly stated, “You’re not going to see a better game than that. Two teams fighting for three overtimes. I had a lot of fun.”

And so say all of us.

Crosby’s Jeremiah Kendall gave a performance for the ages, with 49 points and 24 rebounds. Keep in mind too that Kendall committed his fourth foul with 2:40 to play in the third quarter. He sat for nearly four minutes, and played the game’s final 18-plus minutes on those four fouls. It will forever remain one of the finest city basketball performances.

“It was a good game,” Kendall said, “a very good game. I had four fouls in the third quarter, and then played, like, three more quarters after that.”

There were desperate and dramatic moments at both ends of the floor:

• Torres hit a stunning 3-pointer, and then ended up sprawled upon the floor, to tie the game 82-82 at the end of regulation.
• Crosby’s Miguel Rivera beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer at the end of the first overtime to tie the game 94-94.
• With Crosby down three with 3.9 seconds left in the second OT, Kendall made one free throw, purposely missed the second, got his own rebound, and put up a shot. The ball caught iron, bounced high, and dropped through the hoop. Buzzer. Tie game, 105-105.
• And then the unlikeliest hero of all stepped forward. Elijah Carter, the younger brother of Anthony Ireland — and wearing uniform No. 3 just like AI — scored 12 of his 14 points in the third overtime, including two dramatic 3-point shots, one of them precariously off balance.

“He makes them like that all the time,” joked Crosby coach Nick Augelli.

“I knew if I got my opportunity I would make the best of it,” Carter said. “I was waiting four games for this. I just had to take us home.”

If that was home, I can think of a lot of basketball fans who would like to move in.

The Career gymnasium, site of a leaky roof the night before that had postponed this game from Tuesday to Wednesday, allowed even the casual fan the chance to see a game that will be long remembered.

And it was your typical city scene. Most fans were up and out of their seats permanently, from late in the fourth quarter until the final play. Fans came out of the stands and ringed portions of the court. Once, at a Crosby state quarterfinal game, I had to stand on my chair to see over a throng of spectators at Sheehan High. Wednesday night was nearly the same.

Crosby’s Langstun Racine (1) puts up a shot under the block attempt by WCA’s Jalen Edwards (24) during their game Wednesday at Waterbury Career Academy. Crosby went on to win 125-123.
Jim Shannon Republican-American

This wasn’t just a good game. It was an important game. It was crucial for the Bulldogs, who lost big to East Hartford in their previous game. This was beyond crucial for Waterbury Career, a school that is just trying to prove it belongs.

We’re not telling tales out of school when we say that not all city coaches were thrilled with WCA’s arrival on the basketball landscape, and its ability to draw students, and athletes, from all city districts. The fact that Career sits nicely in the Crosby district helped amp up this particular rivalry.

Players chatted, amicably on occasion, throughout the game. This was important stuff, in a rivalry that promises to be among the city’s best.

“We wanted to prove that we belong in the NVL,” explained Career’s Jay Turner.

Consider it done.

“They are a good team,” Crosby’s Kendall said. “I like this team. It was a good game, and they’re a good team.”

The Bulldogs got the win, the Spartans made their point, and the city witnessed yet another basketball classic.