By Bill Bray
FREMONT – In a little over a week Christians everywhere will celebrate Christmas Day. Thursday night coach John Cahill got an early gift as his Fremont Ross Little Giant basketball team, fought, scrapped, and dug their way to a 70-67 triple overtime win over the Anthony Wayne Generals.
Three Little Giants were the main contributors to the longest night of basketball since 1975 when those Little Giants got a two-point victory over the Findlay Trojans that took three overtime sessions. Dontrell Heard came off the bench and got better as the game went on. The junior dynamo led his team with 21 points. Nine of his points were scored during overtime play. “The Don” has been in my doghouse for a while,” Cahill said of Heard. “His free throw shooting was off tonight, but he is a kid that we saw all summer. He’s tough, there isn’t much to him, he’s crafty and has a lot of belief in himself. he gutted it up tonight and played really, really well. “
Junior Michael Stover and senior Tykell Patterson added their own spark as Patterson scored seven of his 11-point total during the extra sessions. Patterson, making big bucket after big bucket helped to keep his team alive during the cross over game. Stover, a 6’6″ junior sank to pivotal free throws during the extra time adding 8 of his points during regulation. The team concept was evident the entire game as juniors Makai Lee and Dekentre Hardin added nine points apiece and sophomore Justin Haralson finished with eight points.
“As a team we are beginning to figure things out,” Cahill said after the contest. “I think there are times when we can do things better inside than we are doing them, referring to Stover and Haralson, but they held their own as they continue to grow into their positions. But as a team we must learn how to embrace success. It’s just because they aren’t used to it.”
The Giants can enjoy this win for 24 hours then it is back to work as they host Mansfield Sr Saturday night. “It’s a storied rivalry in our history, Cahill said of the Tygers. “But I like my guys.”
The motto for the Fremont Ross basketball team is “Fremont is built on blue collar, unselfishness and toughness.” It was on display Thursday night and the hope is that the team can bounce back from the triple overtime win and GO right back at it this weekend.
