Perham's last-second shot lifts Cosmos

Springfield coach Pete Peck was talking before the game how he really liked his team and that they had been playing better even though there were some tough losses.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20120207/SPORTS/702079874

Published February 7, 2012 in the Rutland Herald
Perham’s last-second shot lifts Cosmos

By POODY WALSH
CORRESPONDENT

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield coach Pete Peck was talking before the game how he really liked his team and that they had been playing better even though there were some tough losses. He liked them a whole lot more Monday night as the game winning shot rolled though the net as the buzzer went off giving Springfield a 55-54 win over Windsor.

The whole fourth quarter was zany as the Cosmos built up a five-point lead and then were caught in a bit of a dilemma as they turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions, fell behind and at one point had five fouls to give. Anyway that was just the preliminary for the main event. With 13.1 seconds to go Windsor’s Luke TanCreti made two free throws to put Windsor in the lead.

Springfield took a timeout after the second made free throw and had to figure a way to get the ball the length of the court against an aggressive Windsor defense and score in the time remaining. It took three passes, but the last one went to Kirk Perham who drove the lane and rolled it in. Then the buzzer sounded. Aaron Wallace started the play by inbounding the ball to Jordan Crowley who moved it to Jake Patoine who found Perham scooting across the middle, fed him the ball and Perham did the rest.

“They got the ball to their best player and he knew what to do with it,” said Windsor coach Harry Ladue.

Perham said he didn’t know how much time was left when he was passed the ball. “I just went for the basket,” he said.

As the ball dropped through Peck and the bench flooded the floor. “Sure I was excited for them,” Peck said. “These kids deserved this.”

The game was also important in the standings as the Cosmos entered the game at 4-10 in 17th place in Division II with the top 16 qualifying for the postseason.

While Perham got the game-winning shot it would have been meaningless if not for the play of Aaron Wallace, who had a 26-point night “And he owned the glass,” said Peck.

It was a strange night for Windsor as the Jacks had more 3-point baskets (11) than two point hoops (9).

“We took too many of them,” Ladue said in reference to the bombs.

The loss dropped the Jacks to 5-9.

While Springfield finished the night in the win column, Peck was the first admit that the play of the Cosmos down the stretch wasn’t great with the turnovers and there were three missed free throws as well. “Yeah, we could have played better in those last minutes. But you know what? We’re going home a winner.”

Springfield struggled early as Windsor built up a 27-16 lead with 3:56 to go in the second period. Springfield cut the lead to 33-28 by the half and trailed just 45-44 after three quarters.

“They just made one more play than we did tonight,” Ladue said.

Nate Marden had four of the Windsor 3-pointers while Kyle Cushing and Dana Tanner each had three. Dana ended with 13 points while Marden had 12 and Cushing 11.

Perham backed up Wallace’s big night with a 14-point game.

The duo of Wallace and Perham had 26 of the 28 first-half Springfield points.

On Thursday Windsor goes to Fair Haven and Springfield hosts Burr and Burton.