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By Jon Fleck
For the Mirror
Down six with four minutes left to play in Monday's Division 3 championship game of the 2021 CBRC Lakemont Park Summer Basketball League, Courtesy Ford needed to make something happen in a hurry.
The team of Williamsburg alums did just that, reeling off the next seven points to go up 31-30, then converting four straight free throws in the final minute for a hard-fought 35-34 victory.
After Darrin Carper made two foul shots with a minute to go, Jordan Greaser drained a pair from the line with 32 seconds remaining.
Rocksolid's final possession ended with a pair of shots that were off the mark before time expired.
"For Jordan to make those two free throws after going 0-for-4 from the line before that was huge. He really came through for us," Courtesy leading scorer Jake Harker said. "We made buckets when they had to be made. Everyone contributed. That's how it's been all season."
Adam Hileman started the Courtesy's 7-0 run with a long 3-pointer for his only points of the game.
Harker followed with a putback of a missed 3, and Carper scored on the break off a feed from Jeff Detwiler.
"We struggled in the first half. It was a tough shooting night for both teams, but we found a way," Detwiler said. "We had some guys make some big shots down the stretch."
Ryan McClain stopped the Courtesy run with a bucket inside, and Mydell Loner added two free throws with 1:11 remaining to give Rocksolid a brief 34-31 edge.
Trailing 14-11 at halftime, Harker gave the Courtesy offense a kickstart with eight of his 10 points early in the second half after scoring none in the first.
"I had my kids here watching and really wanted to perform for them. Show them how to pull through even when you're struggling and set an example," Harker said.
Courtesy also got a 3-pointer from Dalton Price and a fastbreak bucket from Drew Hileman early in the second half for a 24-20 lead.
Price finished with seven points, and Greaser added five.
Rocksolid (9-4) answered with a 10-0 run. Loner started the run with a layup then sandwiched four free throws around a pair of foul shots by Jim Rush. Rush capped the run with a bucket on a 3-on-1 break to put Rocksolid ahead 30-24.
Loner finished with a team-high 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds. McClain added nine points, and Brock Imperioli scored six on a pair of first-half 3-pointers
The game was stopped twice in the first half by rain. The first delay came at the 3:29 mark and lasted about 10 minutes. After the restart, a heavier downfall hit with 1:08 on the clock, causing a more extended delay.
ROCKSOLID (34): Loner 1 8-13 10, Imperioli 2 0-2 6, Walker 0 0-0 0, Rush 1 3-6 5, McClain 4 0-0 9, Sellers 1 1-3 4, Rodgers 0 0-0 0. Totals - 9 12-24 34.
COURTESY FORD (35): D. Hileman 1 0-0 2, Jeff Detwiler 0 0-0 0, Michelone 0 0-2 0, Price 3 0-0 7, Harker 4 2-3 10, Jay Detwiler 1 1-2 4, Joe Detwiler 0 0-0 0, Greaser 1 2-6 5, A. Hileman 1 0-0 3, Carper 1 2-2 4. Totals - 12 7-15 35.
Halftime: 14-11, Rocksolid.
3-point goals: Rocksolid 4 (Imperioli 2, McClain, Sellers); Courtesy Ford 4 (Price, Jay Detwiler, Greaser, A. Hileman).
Officials: Curtis Miller, Maireade Byrne, Randy Burkett.