Sometimes, things happen in sports that have never happened before, and in Greenbrier East’s 65-62 loss to Bluefield on Saturday, Feb. 19, if what transpired has happened in the past at any level, I have never seen it.
The Spartans led by three points, 50-47 with one second left in the game. The Beavers inbounded the ball to Caleb Fuller who caught the pass, turned and heaved a three-quarter court shot and drained it to send the crowd into a frenzy and the game into overtime.
With 10 seconds to go in the extra session, the Spartans’ Adam Seams dribbled the ball up the floor, stopped and popped a long 3-pointer and swished it through the net. That made the score 62-62 with six seconds remaining.
But Fuller got the ball again and this time shot from half court and made it yet again to send the Spartans home with a shocking defeat.
Video of the game went viral on social media outlets with some posters lobbying for it to be on Sportscenter’s top 10 plays segment.
East coach Jared Patton was in so much disbelief, he was not even in a bad mood after the tough loss.
“I have never been a part of a game like that,” Patton said. To have that happen twice in the same game by the same player was wild.”
The coach actually used the finish as a way to educate his team in the long run. East led the game at one point 36-19, but let it slip away.
“Bluefield’s locker room was right beside ours so we could hear them celebrating as they should. I told our kids that should have been us and we have to make it a priority to close out our games better,” Patton explained.
A blown lead and then a heartbreaking, anomaly-like conclusion can sometimes affect a team’s confidence and psyche going forward, but with the way this season has gone, Patton does not see it as an issue.
“We have seen crazy stuff all season. I don’t think we will be affected by it one bit. For the schedule we had for the season and all the tight games we have lost by one or two points, the kids have learned to have a short memory,” Patton said.
With the regular season now over, the Spartans (10-11) will now set their focus on the sectional tournament set to begin this week.
“Our team is resilient. We will be ready to play in the sectional games no matter who we have to play,” Patton concluded.
Seams led East against the Beavers with 15 points. Goose Gabbert added 11.
Fuller led Bluefield (17-4) with 24.
At this time, it has not been announced who the Spartans will play in the first round of the sectionals. That information will be made available when known.
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