SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- A throng of fans packed Blake Arena at Springfield College to see Montrose Christian's outstanding senior forward Kevin Durant.
And while the Texas bound Durant didn't disappoint, many came away with a new found respect for St. John Neumann-Goretti power forward Rick Jackson, who scored 15 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked five shots to lead the Saints to a 67-64 victory over the Mustangs at the Fifth Annual Magic32 HoopHall Classic High School Invitational.
Only a junior, the 6-8, 215 pound Jackson (already committed to Syracuse) saved his best for last, coming up with a number of big offensive and defensive plays down the stretch to tip the outcome in Neumann-Goretti's favor.
"My role on this team is to block shots, get rebounds and score when I can," Jackson said. "So I just try to go out there and do what I have to do."
After Greivis Vasquez (Maryland) scored to give Montrose Christian a 64-62 lead, the teams exchanged turnovers, giving the Saints a chance to tie or take the lead. They worked the ball into Jackson, who made a nifty post move, scored and was fouled with 58.3 seconds remaining.
Jackson's free throw completed a three-point play and gave Neumann-Goretti a narrow 65-64 lead.
"Rich struggled in tight today (5/11 FGs), but he hung tough and made plays when it counted," said Neumann-Goretti Head Coach Carl Arrigale. "His teammates trust him, they gave him the ball and they were rewarded in the end with a win."
Montrose Christian Head Coach Stu Vetter thought Jackson's three-point play was especially harmful because his Mustangs failed to capitalize on an opportunity to increase their precarious two point lead.
"I thought when we came down with the two-point lead that we should have held the ball a little bit and worked some clock," he said. "We didn't do that -- we wound up turning the ball over -- and they're too good of a team to do that to."
Vasquez couldn't finish a drive on the other end with :43 remaining, and rather than sit on the ball and a slim margin, the Saints' Antonio "Scoop" Jardine (Syracuse) found Derrick Rivera (St. Joseph's) under the basket, and his acrobatic reverse lay-in pushed the lead to 67-64.
Needing a trey to tie the game, the Mustangs opted instead to take a quick two-pointer. Unfortunately, Vasquez was again unable to finish a drive, giving Neumann-Goretti a chance to put the game away at the charity stripe.
Rivera missed the front end of a one and one opportunity with 18.7 seconds left, but Vasquez misfired on an open three-pointer from the right corner on the other end.
With 5.1 seconds left, Neumann-Goretti guard Frank Biondo had a chance to salt the game's outcome, but he, like Rivera, missed the front end of a one and one.
As the clock wound down toward zero, Durant hoisted a deep three pointer beyond the top of the key that rimmed out, preserving the Saints' victory.
"We didn't make it easy on ourselves," said Neumann-Goretti Head Coach Carl Arrigale. "It's one of those situations I've wrestled with as a coach -- to foul or not to foul, and we were ready to foul, but they called time out before we could foul them."
Montrose called a time out with :02 left to strategize, and predictably, they went to their top gun, Durant. Durant led all scorers with 30 points (10/20 FGs, 4/9 on treys), but Vasquez (19 points on 6/18 FGs) was the only other Mustang to hit for double figures.
By contrast, the Saints utilized a more balanced attack, placing three players in double figures. Rivera pumped in 20 points (9/15 FGs) while the 6-2 Jardine collected 18 points and five assists in the win.