Coleman’s Late Work Lifts Crespi

Crespi High’s Randy Coleman was not the only player a little rusty from the free-throw line Tuesday night, just the only one with a good excuse.

Coleman was one of five players to miss a crucial free throw in the final 31 seconds of the nonleague opener between host Crespi and Murphy.

But Coleman was the only one of the five to make one. Coleman’s free throw with three seconds to play helped the Celts hold off Murphy, 56-54.

Coleman, a 6-foot-6 senior forward, made one of three free throws and finished with seven points. He undoubtedly would have scored more had he not spent the first three quarters on the bench because he missed three practices this week.

Murphy, which led for most of the third quarter before the game turned into a seesaw battle in the fourth, confounded the Celts with quick passes that eluded the defense of Crespi’s 6-foot-8 center Matt Carpenter. Coleman’s presence, however, slowed the Nobles’ attack.

“You could probably see the difference in our team with and without (Coleman),” Crespi Coach Chris Nikchevich said.

Carpenter, who scored nine points, finished with a game-high 10 rebounds. Point guard Charles Aghajanian added seven rebounds to go with 10 assists and two points. But Crespi’s big gun was 6-4 guard Rob Leff, who figures to shatter a few school shooting records, particularly in the three-point department.

Leff scored a game-high 26 points, including six three-point baskets in nine attempts. Leff made three consecutive three-point shots in the final two minutes of the third quarter and gave the Celts their first lead since the first half by sinking a three-point shot on his first shot of the fourth quarter. For the game, Leff made 10 of 17 shots but he didn’t score in the final seven minutes.

By that time Coleman had arrived, however, and so did the ball each time he posted up. Coleman made a short baseline jumper and scored twice inside before the game became a free-throw-for-all.

With 31 seconds to play and Crespi leading, 55-54, Murphy’s Lee Roberts missed from the line.

With 22 seconds left, Coleman missed.

With 13 seconds left, Murphy’s John Quan missed. With 10 seconds left, Crespi’s Aghajanian missed. With six seconds left, Crespi’s Sean Smith missed.

Coleman finally came through with three seconds to play, but missed the second shot.