On Homecoming Day at Upper Room, the boys’ basketball team overcame a 15-point second half deficit and the absence of starters Ed Rooney and Burt Vimont to stun their hosts, 55-54. After a fast-paced opening frame, the Bears trailed 13-16, then, to the delight of the raucous fans, fell behind by seven at the break after a layup by the Royals beat the buzzer. Halftime did nothing to galvanize the Blue and White as Upper Room scored two easy baskets to ignite an 8-0 run that left the Brook down 20-35.  The boys were able to claw back to within 9, but dropped their third straight quarter 14-16.

A comeback by the Bears seemed to be stymied by consecutive Upper Room layups that sent the crowd into a frenzy. However, what the Royal players and fans could not have envisioned was that their offense would be held without a field goal for the final 5:30 of the contest while the Brook would erupt for a 16-2 run. Brendan Penn was the catalyst for the Blue and White, drilling two of his four 3-pointers and netting 8 points during the stretch.

The turning point of the game happened with the Brook down by three as Penn drove to the hoop. After being rejected, the shooting guard was taunted by a Royal, prompting the referee to slap Upper Room with a technical foul. Steve Harney connected on both free throws to bring the Brook within a point. On the ensuing defensive stand, the Blue and White got the stop they needed with 24 seconds showing on the clock, intent on holding the ball for the last shot. After misfiring on two 3-pointers with 10 seconds left, the Bears were forced to foul with six seconds remaining after Upper Room snared the rebound. The Bears got what they needed when Upper Room missed the front end of a 1-and-1, giving the Bears the ball back with 4.4 seconds remaining.

Still trailing by one, the Bears had to go the length of the floor and left their fate in the capable hands of Harney. After receiving the in-bounds pass, the savvy point guard bowled over a Royal and drew a blocking foul with 1.6 seconds on the scoreboard. Harney exhibited why “Clutch Touch” was scrawled across the back of his sneakers, connecting on both ends of a 1-and-1 to give the Brook their first lead of the game. The thriller was not be complete without one more exciting moment as a desperation shot by the home team hit off the back iron.

Penn was named the game’s Most Valuable Player by merit of his 14-point effort. Sean Sprauve had a big game inside with 16 points and 12 boards and Harney chipped in with 9 points.

Harney, S. Brook Nip Upper Room

Steven Harney made both ends of a one-and-one with 1.6 seconds left as Stony Brook beat Upper Room, 55-54, yesterday in non-league boys basketball. Brendan Penn scored eight points, including two of his four three-pointers, in the last 5:30 as Stony Brook erased a 13-point deficit with a 16-2 run. Sean Sprauve had 16 points and 12 rebounds for Stony Brook, which trailed until Harney made his final free throw.

~ Newsday

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