SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIPS : Anderson Comes Through When Needed for Servite

Adam Anderson looked at the stat sheet, winced and covered his eyes.

It didn’t work. When he looked down again, it still showed that he had hit two of 12 shots from the field.

“That’s real depressing,” said Anderson, a senior at Servite High School. “ Two of 12 , that’s tough to look at.”

Well, in the future Anderson can look at his Southern Section Division III-A championship patch instead. Something he had a big hand in winning.

Although he shot poorly in Saturday’s game against Morningside, it was Anderson who was there when it counted to put the Friars over the top. The 6-foot-5 senior forward scored the last six points, all on free throws, to give Servite a 49-46 victory.

It was also Anderson who made the big defensive play, forcing a turnover with five seconds left to clinch the victory.

“Adam is just a clutch performer,” Coach Richard Smith said. “Nothing he did today was out of character.”

True, Anderson wasn’t the unlikely hero. After all, he is the team’s leading scorer and the Friars’ go-to guy when the game’s on the line.

But, considering the day he was having, even Anderson was shocked when Smith chose him to win the game.

With 29 seconds left and Morningside leading, 46-45, Dan Coady stole a pass and Servite called time out. Smith set up a play for Anderson, who hadn’t made a field goal since the second quarter.

“I was a little down on myself,” said Anderson, who scored 11 points. “It was a very frustrating game for me. Still, Coach Smith showed confidence in me.”

It wasn’t misplaced.

Anderson got the ball 20 feet from the basket and drove to his left. He pumped once, then made a pivot to his right to draw the foul.

“That was a Division I move,” Smith said.

Anderson’s first free throw was perfect to tie the score. His second one came up a little short, bouncing off the lip of the rim and then going in.

“When I let it go, I said, ‘Oh no, it’s short,’ ” he said. “I guess I had a good shooter’s touch. First time all day.”

Morningside had a chance to win the game. With 10 seconds left, Shawn Forbin drove the base line, then passed across the middle to StaisBoseman. At the last second, Anderson got a finger on the ball. It bounced off Boseman and went out of bounds.

Anderson then was fouled and made two more free throws.

“I was glad I could do something to help,” Anderson said. “I just didn’t shoot well the whole game. I had a couple (of shots) go in and out and that didn’t help my confidence.”

Although he shot poorly, Anderson contributed in other ways. He had 11 rebounds, five assists and two steals. He also made seven of eighth free throws in the fourth quarter.

Still, there are a couple of numbers he doesn’t want to see.

“Boy, two of 12,” Anderson said. “Nice day.”

Actually, it was. For Anderson and the Friars.