RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Three games for five dollars – and free parking. A bargain in any sense of the word. It was one of the virtually countless holiday basketball tournaments that lead up to conference play.
The event is the Jack Stone Shootout held at St. Mary High School. The sixth annual tournament honors Jack Stone, who passed away seven years ago. Jack’s son Matt, the Saint Mary AD, was an outstanding player at the Rutherford school before playing at Keene State in New Hampshire. In Matt’s words, “my dad loved high school basketball.” A brief but one hundred percent assessment.
On this evening, there were two consolation games followed by the championship. Walking up to the gym, the lights of the court help illuminate a dark street. The closer one gets the clearer the PA announcer sounds. Walking up the stairs, one can literally hear coaches shouting out instructions.
In the third place consolation, host Saint Mary is trailing Manchester by nine midway through the fourth quarter. The Gaels proceed to run off 13 straight points. A last-second layup was Manchester’s only points in the last four minutes as the Gaels prevailed 41-39.
The championship matched Leonia and Indian Hills. For the most part, the high school game represents basketball purity and innocence. Many are playing for the sheer love of the game. The pro and college games are not perfect in an aesthetic way. The high school game is even farther removed from perfection, but that may be one of its attractions. When things come together it is that much special.
Early on we see something not noticed at higher levels: players are working for and taking mid-range jumpers. Each of the two coaches plays a sideline chess match with changing defenses. Again, it is interesting to see how the respective teams attack those defenses.
Following a close first quarter, Leonia shows a four-point halftime lead. In the second half, Indian Hills makes some headway by utilizing a 1-3-1 zone. Leonia has difficulty attacking it. They do employ the axiom of ‘beating a zone by beating it down the floor’, as transition allows them to build the lead to seven entering the final eight minutes.
Indian Hills makes runs, Leonia keeps the lead. With sixty seconds left and an eight-point lead, the Leonia coach paces the sideline realizing this is high school ball, and in a game of this nature, no lead is safe.
Missed opportunities at the line have the Leonia lead down to two possessions. Twenty seconds on the clock. Twenty seconds feeling like eternity.
The free throw, the needed stop – they came together, sealing the 59-51 championship for Leonia. Matt and his family assist in distributing awards in the post game ceremony.
It is not the Garden, not Barclays nor any other notable facility around the country. It makes no difference. The winning Leonia Lions stood out on the floor as champions. Posing for pictures. Proud, excited and all smiles as friends, family, tournament administration and media snapped their picture.
Finals night capped off three days of tournament basketball.
For the teams, a final test to see their status quo entering conference play. For the fans, a roundball ‘present’.
One they look forward to each year.
