Bishops vs. Iron Horses ends in controversy as clock expires

Bishop England versus Philip Simmons in high school basketball includes capacity crowds, island pride, bragging rights, individual efforts that define a player, team celebrations and goodwill handshakes at the end of the contest.

 

You can add controversy to the conversation after the BE boys beat the Iron Horses 51-49 Dec. 16 after an official waived off what appeared to be a game-winning 3-pointer by the Iron Horses’ Troy Stevenson.

 

The controversy, in front of a capacity crowd at Bishop England’s Father O’Brien Gymnasium, began with a few ticks remaining on the scoreboard clock and will probably be discussed for quite a while including at the Class of 2023’s reunion in 2043.

 

The Bishops led by two points when the Iron Horses set up for the final play of the game with 1.9 seconds left on the clock. The Iron Horses’ Wilson Brooks heaved a long inbound pass to Jacque Greene, who quickly dished it off to Stevenson. Stevenson launched a long jumper over a BE defender. In photos circulating on social media, the ball appeared to leave Stevenson’s hands with .1 seconds left on the clock. However, the officials ruled the shot didn’t count.

 

And just like that, the Iron Horses fell to 4-6 on the season.

 

“It was a tough way to lose,” Philip Simmons coach Garrett Campbell said. “I told our players to keep their heads high. I told them to walk out with their heads held high. Both teams played their hearts out and it was a great game. Unfortunately, sometimes human error factors in. We’re all human and make mistakes.”

 

BE coach Bryan Grevey said, “It was quite the ending. I’ve played (the tape) back many times. When I watch it, sometimes the shot looks good and there are times when it doesn’t look like he got the shot off.”

 

The Bishops, who trailed 20-17 after one quarter, managed to take a 35-31 lead into the frantic final 8 minutes, and held on for the win.

 

The Bishops had five players enter the scoring column, and four finished with double digits: Ellis Rollins scored 10, Jack Raup (12), Lang Tarrant (13) and Andrew Puckhaber (14).

 

Robert Watson led the Iron Horses with 17. Greene scored 11 and Brooks added 10.

 

MORE HOOPS

 

The Iron Horses posted a 48-34 victory in the girls’ game Dec. 16 against Bishop England to up their record to 8-2. Kennedy Rivers led the winners with 14 points, Zhaire Mack scored 12 and Kylee Kellermann chipped in with 11.

 

While Philip Simmons is a recent rival, BE faced longtime rival Pinewood Prep Dec. 17 in Summerville.

 

The Bishop girls posted a 45-35 victory over the Panthers to push their record to 6-4. The Bishops built a six-point lead at the end of the first quarter and 36-21 entering the final period.

 

Lilly Hodge led the Bishops with 10 points and Lizzy Tompkins chipped in with nine.

 

Pinewood won the boys game as the Bishops fell to 5-5. Pinewood Prep jumped out to a 21-1 lead at the end of the first stop and never looked back to win for the 11th time in 15 games.

 

Ellis Rollins led the Bishops with 10 points. Jack Van De Erve, Charlie Ranney and Lang Tarrant all scored nine.