Nitros clutch in the end
PASADENA — So many things went through Anthony Tahmazian’s mind when the ball landed in his hand before juggling it as the final seconds ticked off.
What the Glendale High senior point guard didn’t have drawn up was an unusual four-point play that would help his squad win the game. Somehow, Tahmazian bucked the odds.
Tahmazian converted on a four-point play with one second left to propel Glendale to a 34-33 victory against Mark Keppel on Friday night in a pool-play contest of the Maranatha Tournament.
After Mark Keppel took a 33-30 lead on a three-point play with four seconds left, Glendale called timeout. Senior forward Linden Anderson got the ball inbounds to Tahmazian, who briefly juggled the ball before banking in a three-point shot while being fouled. He calmly made the free throw and Glendale held on, as a three-point shot by Mark Keppel fell well short at the buzzer.
“I was just thinking about being able to control the ball and get the shot off,” said Tahmazian, who finished with 11 points. “I didn’t think the shot was going to go and I was hoping for a foul that would give me three free throws.
“I’ve made a three-pointer to tie a game late before, but never a four-point play to win a game. I still had to make that free throw and I had to calm myself down.”
Glendale Coach Steve Snodgress, whose team opened the tournament earlier with a 56-51 pool-play loss to Providence, said he couldn’t recall being involved in a game that ended on a four-point play.
“I don’t think I ever have been associated with a game like that,” said Snodgress, whose squad will complete pool-play action with a contest against La Salle at 10 a.m. today. “It’s better to be lucky than good.
“We played hard and we saw that you are never out of it. I thought the shot by Anthony was too hard and didn’t know if it would go in.”
Mark Keppel held a 27-24 lead entering the five-minute fourth quarter before Glendale began its comeback. Tahmazian made a jump shot to bring the Nitros to within 29-28 with 2:51 remaining. A layup by Anderson knotted the game at 30 with 1:31 left.
The Nitros owned a 17-16 halftime advantage. A three-pointer by senior guard Steven Gasparian gave the Nitros a 17-12 lead with 6:20 left in the first half. However, the Nitros went in an offensive drought the rest of the half.
Anderson finished with nine points and five rebounds for Glendale, which received seven points from Gasparian.
