Posted on 16 January 2009 by .
By Angela Watts
Assistant GM, Washington D.C. Metro Area
** Click on the links above to access a full photo gallery and dozens of video highlights from Friday’s game!
Chantilly junior forward Matt Dewitt admits he has dreamed of hitting game-winning shots.
He even, for a split-second, entertained the idea Friday night during the Chargers game at Westfield.
“I was thinking earlier in the game … just a lil’ dreaming … what if it came down to that shot,” Dewitt said. “And sure enough it did.”
But even his wildest dreams couldn’t have prepared him for the reality of how it played out against the his team’s biggest rival.
With :04.1 seconds remaining and his team trailing by one, Dewitt accepted a pass from Shane Gaboury and launched a three-pointer from the left baseline.
It swished cleanly through the net with just :02.6 to play, lifting No. 8 Chantilly (13-1 overall, 6-0 Concorde District) to a dramatic, 57-55 victory over No. 9 Westfield (12-2, 4-1).
The moment — and the follow-through pose Dewitt held — were both classic.
“It looked good as soon as I let go,” said Dewitt, who was mobbed by teammates and hundreds of fans who spilled out of the bleachers and onto the court for an exuberant post-game celebration. “If you look at the video I was already down the court after I shot it.”
His teammates, apparently, had similar thoughts.
“I knew it was good before it left his hands,” senior guard Justin May said. “I didn’t even go box out. I knew it was good.”
That last shot highlighted what was simply a spectacular night of high school basketball.
The game itself was well-played and close throughout, with both teams hustling, executing and trading big shots.
The atmosphere, too, was picture-perfect. Fans from both schools filled the bleachers to capacity and cheered wildly throughout.
And by games’ end it wasn’t just the student-cheering sections where fans were on their feet — instead, the entire gymnasium pulsated with excitement and anticipation.
“It’s the best,” May said of playing in front of a packed house. “I mean, it seems like Fairfax County doesn’t care too much about basketball. But when we play Westfield it’s [different]. It’s a good environment.”
And that was why, in his pregame speech, Chantilly Coach Jim Smith implored his players to soak it all in.
“I told our kids, ‘You work really hard in the off-season to get to play in games like this. So enjoy it. Obviously, we hope we can win. But the big thing is enjoy it, because this is special.’
“And it was a great experience. This game tonight, no matter what happens the rest of the season, these guys will remember this night for the rest of their lives.”
Chantilly had one other opportunity to take the lead late when May stole the ball with about :23 seconds remaining. But his subsequent layup attempt got caught on the rim and fell out, putting the ball back into Westfield’s hands and forcing the Chargers to foul to stop the clock.
“I told our guys that with :35 seconds left and down one they had to give themselves every opportunity to play defense and turn them over, and Justin May made a great play right here by the sideline,” Smith said. “He missed the layup, but it was the right play and missing a shot happens in basketball. And we fouled at that point, but sometimes people miss free throws, too. And that gave us an opportunity to hit a shot to win and we were very fortunate that Matt knocked down the shot.
“When the ball was up in the air I knew we had a chance. But I’ve been
on the other side, too, so I know basketball is a fickle sport.
“But it’s
nice to win one that way once in a while.”
May led Chantilly with a team-high 14 points despite playing limited minutes because of a sore hamstring, while sophomore center John Manning added 12 and junior forward Matt Howerton 10.
Westfield was paced by senior forward Chris Kearney’s game-high 19 points.
“Absolutely we were unfortunate tonight,” Bulldogs’ Coach Doug Ewell said. “And I’m disappointed for our kids. But this type of atmosphere will only prepare us for bigger games. That’s why I told the guys that all they needed to do was just re-focus. Because sometimes in life, things just don’t fall your way. Matt Dewitt made a great play. But there were two good teams out there battling … what can you do?”
That answer is easy: Eagerly anticipate the rematch on Feb. 10.
“I think, just maybe, that it’s going to be even more exciting next time we play them at our place,” Smith said. “And I already can’t wait.”
Email: awatts@digitalsports.com
No. 8 Chantilly 14 15 12 16 — 57
No. 9 Westfield 15 11 20 9 — 55
Chantilly — May 6 0-0 14; Manning 5 2-2 12; Howerton 4 2-4 10; Dewitt 3 0-0 8; Savage 1 1-2 4; Wuya 1 0-0 3; Danehower 1 0-0 2; Gaboury 1 0-0 2; Weigand 1 0-0 2. Team toals — 23 5-8 57. Westfield — Kearney 7 5-7 19; Scanlon 3 2-2 10; Jackson 1 5-6 7; Francis 2 0-0 6; Ryder 2 2-2 6; Holley 2 0-0 5; Anderson 1 0-0 2. Team totals — 18 14-17 55. Three-pointers — Chantilly 6 (Dewitt 2, May 2, Savage, Wuya); Westfield 5 (Francis 2, Scanlon 2, Holley).
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