A.I. duPont Holds On in Late Win Over Glasgow, 60-58

Fans and teammates elevate A.I. duPont guard Daiquanne Peterson to celebrate Friday night's defeat of Glasgow. (Photo by Rob Tornoe)

Gary James (#23) can't get past the stout defense of Mike Lowe (#3) and Matt Greeley (#31). (Photo by Rob Tornoe)

“There are no easy wins in Flight A,” said second-year A.I. duPont (13-3) boy’s basketball coach Tom Tabb. Had he uttered them before tip-off, they would have been prophetic. As it turns out, they were words of relief, spoken in the aftermath of the Tigers’ last-minute victory over the rival Glasgow Dragons (9-5), 60-58.

It was a game that featured a slew of turnovers, fouls, and missed opportunities by both squads.

Fortunately for those watching the game, it featured plenty of drama as well.

The first 1:30 of the game was a preview of things to come, as both teams combined for four turnovers. The Tigers, still stinging from a 16-point loss to the Glasgow Dragons three weeks ago, then proceeded to open up a 21-9 lead to start the game.

Sparked by several key steals by senior guard/forward Daiquane Peterson, the Tigers put on a clinic in the execution of the fast-break, and the flurry of easy baskets seemed to have the Dragons on their heels early.

While many teams would have folded under such pressure in the first period, Glasgow coach Shahid Perkins steadied his team.

“I told them not to panic, and that each game is like a rollercoaster, with its ups and downs,” coach Perkins said. “We just had to stop being careless with the ball.”

The Dragons’ rally began in the second period, as senior guard Charles Burley’s tenacious defense and penetration off of the dribble swung momentum back to Glasgow. A steal and breakaway lay-up by Burley, during which he was fouled, set up the free throw that knotted the game, 25-25, with 4:08 left in the first half.

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As the game progressed into the second half, both teams desperately attempted to counter the moves of the other. Burley’s hot streak prompted the Tigers to shift to a 1-2-2 match-up zone defense, while duPont’s relentless full-court break was countered by Glasgow’s 2-3 zone and full-court press.

The Tigers once again seemed to take control of the game late, mounting a 14-0 run in just 2:07, leading the Dragons 54-43 with 4:53 remaining in regulation. Keyed by a torrent of steals and baskets by Peterson and senior center Matt Greeley, the Tigers were reflecting their coach’s philosophy. “We like to use our defense to create offense, that’s what we preach,” said Tabb.

The Dragons, who have owned this series of late, were not about to give up. The gritty defense of seniors Will Townsville and Darrell Thomas forced turnovers to close the deficit late, while a basket by Burley (who led all scorers with 19) with 15 seconds remaining in the game left the score tied, 58-58.

Fittingly, it was another duPont fast break outlet pass that allowed Greeley to score the game-winning bucket with only 10.2 seconds remaining.

The exuberant pandemonium that erupted in the duPont gym, with students forming into a mass, lifting Tiger players on their shoulders, left no doubt as to the importance of the victory.

Glasgow finished a shocking 10 for 23 from the free throw line. For the Dragons, the loss was sobering, but not mystifying.

“We had to do a better job of taking care of the ball,” said Perkins, “and we were in the bonus the entire second half—we have to make our free throws.”