Wortho and Tremmell celebrate.
I guess you had to be there.
If you were lucky enough to get a seat in the snug little venue they call The Cage, you saw the most amazing win in the short history of the Crazy John’s South Dragons.
Spectacular plays, huge dunks, three point bombs, big steals: this game had it all. We even saw head coach Brian Goorjian chest bump Mark Worthington after the captain’s three-pointer gave the Dragons a three-point lead with three minutes to play.
“Give me a better sporting event in this town,” said Goorjian afterward. “This is a spectacle not to miss.”
“The energy in that arena tonight, the level of basketball being played, the athleticism, the aggressiveness and dislike between the two teams makes for something special.”
As the never-say-die Dragons fought back from a 19-point deficit to pull off an improbable win, a vociferous group of Dragons fans made as much noise as the P.A.-prompted Tigers fans had all night.
And why not? This is a special group.
This is a team that was playing without Cortez Groves (who in a classy move, sat on the bench) and Mika Vukona, who was nursing a sore hip. A team that trailed 55-42 at half and 63-44 at one point in the third quarter.
But this is also a team that has Nathan Herbert, who connected on three critical long-range three-pointers in the fourth quarter, and Adam Gibson whose tireless defence and relentless aggression were a key component of the comeback.
A team with Tremmell Darden, who shook off a few early mistakes and made some incredible plays down the stretch.
And a team whose captain, Mark Worthington talks the talk, but most definitely walks the walk.
For first-year coach Goorjian, a win like this validates everything he has been trying to get across to his young team.
“Our whole fight all year has been change of culture, change of character,” he said. “We were down and out with no answers on an opponent’s home court. (The Tigers were) motivated, with a bone to pick and the most talented team in the competition. And we came back.”
The only negative? Just 3,500 saw this incredible game.