Willams lifts Storm to big win

By Mike Duprez
The Dispatch

January 24, 2009

Phillip Williams was struggling with free throws Saturday afternoon, missing five out of six down the stretch.

But when the Davidson County Community College guard had the ball in his hands with less than 10 seconds to go against Caldwell Community College, he came through.

With the Storm trailing by one, Williams drove the length of the court for a layup with 1.1 seconds left and lifted his team to a dramatic 85-82 victory at Brinkley Gym.

“I just wanted to win so bad,” Williams said. “I just forced it in. All the hard work has paid off for coach (Matt) Ridge and our season. We worked so hard to get here. Every time he said, ‘don’t give up.’ And we didn’t give up.”

DCCC, which trailed by eight with 6:10 to go and four with 53 seconds left, took over sole possession of first place in the Tar Heel Conference. The Storm, 17-2 overall, are 6-0 in the conference. Caldwell fell to 5-1 in the conference.

And Williams, who finished with 18 points, was the hero.

“Well, I think he’s a winner,” Ridge said. “And he’s a warrior, the best defender I have ever coached.”

The last minute had its fill of excitement.

Roderick Geter, who led the Storm with 23 points, cut the deficit in half with a pair of free throws.

But while Matt Taylor and Williams each had crucial misses from the line, so did the visiting Cobras.

Caldwell was ahead 81-80 when the Storm’s defense completely broke down on an inbounds play. Chad Eppley had a clear path to the basket for an uncontested layup but chose to keep dribbling in an effort to run out the clock. Geter fouled him, and Eppley missed the front end of a 1-and-1.

Williams was fouled with 11.5 seconds left and after missing his fifth consecutive free throw, finally made one to tie the game.

The Storm got whistled for a touch foul with 9.2 seconds left, and Joseph Cuello hit the second of two free throws to put his team ahead.

Then the ball was inbounded to Williams with no real set play except to create.

“Coach Ridge just told me to get the ball and go,” Williams said. “If you find someone open, give it to them. But if you’ve got the green light and you want it, take it.”

Williams did, and his teammates erupted in joy when his layup fell through the net.

“I told him the guy guarding him wasn’t keeping him in front of him,” Ridge said. “That was a big-time play. And he’s a better free throw shooter than that.”

After the Cobras’ desperation inbounds pass hit a rafter, Josh Jones was fouled and made two free throws with 0.8 seconds left for a little insurance.

When the horn sounded, the Storm were a step closer to their goals.

“One of our goals is to win the regular season championship,” Ridge said. “We were co-champions last year, and we want to win it outright this year. This is a big step in that process. Again, the season is a marathon, and we’ve got a lot of basketball left to play.”

Even more remarkable was that the Storm won despite the opponent shooting 56.9 percent from the floor.

“I told the kids that championship teams find ways to win when they don’t play their best,” Ridge said. “I am very proud that we gutted this one out. We’re going to enjoy this until midnight and then get ready for a game on Monday.”

Jones added 15 points for the Storm, and Brandon Cowan had 11. Geter was a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line for the second straight home game.

Carlton Smith, who was a load for DCCC to handle, led Caldwell with a game-high 27 points. William Swaba and Cuello each had 14 points.

The fans were treated to a game with five lead changes, six ties and plenty of intensity from both teams.

DCCC fell behind 14-6 in the opening minutes but quickly charged back with a 7-0 run capped by Jones’ 12-foot jumper.

Tempers flared at the 11:48 mark. Right after Caldwell coach Tom Cline called a timeout, the 6-5 Swaba pushed the basketball into the face of 6-6 P.J.Hamright, who retaliated with a hard shove. Both players were assessed technical fouls. The Cobras got the worst of it because Swaba, who had made all four of shots and finished the game 7-for-7 from the field, spent the rest of the half on the bench.

Caldwell still managed to hold a 44-41 halftime lead.

The Cobras maintained their lead in the second half as Smith repeatedly befuddled DCCC with his ballhandling, dribble penetration and shooting.

Caldwell led 74-66 with 6:10 left on Darius Curry’s layup.

But the Storm charged back and pulled even at 77-77 with 4:08 left on Geter’s 3-pointer, setting the stage for a dramatic ending.

DCCC will go to Greensboro for a 7 p.m. Monday game against the Guilford College junior varsity.