UC wing hits game winner at Deveroes

With seven seconds remaining, trailing by one point, Rashad Bishop received the pass on the wing. Bishop pounded the deck a few times, felt the ball nicked away.

It appeared inconceivable that he would be even offer a shot attempt before the horn. Bishop quickly recovered the ball, hitting a slightly fading three-pointer as the buzzer sounded. His game-winner elevate Clovernook Health Care to 6-3 for the regular season.

Though they led the majority of the game, Clovernook fell behind dangerously late to Goodies Barbecue. The game concluded 80-78. Goodies features a roster largely made up of Miami (Oh) players like Antonio Ballard, Tyler Dierkers, Allen Roberts, Quinten Rollins, Josh Sewell, etc.

Bishop spent the second half backing down his smaller defender. Though he looked only moderately invested throughout the early stages of the second half, Bishop closed the game out with a flurry of gorgeous turnaround jumpers.

From the backed down position, Bishop swiveled into a fluid fade. He shot 9-19 for the afternoon, amassing 11 rebounds along the way. From the outside the UC senior made two of seven shots. He made 60% of his shots in the final five minutes. Teammate Anthony McClain also played the entire game.

Biggie finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 assists for the game. His second half was much less productive, as fatigue set in. In the Woodward High School gym, the air was cool and kind to the college hoopsters. Unfortunately for McClain there were no frontcourt subs.

Miami's Ballard really exposed the big guy on back-to-back-to-back possessions by pulling him away from the rim and then darting around him. In three consecutive possessions, Ballard converted two layups and one free throw, all with McClain defending.

When he got tired later in the day, McClain stopped moving his feet on defense. Ballard's success in the second half can be directly attributed to McClain's fatigue.

His defense had a few bright spots too.

In the final minute Roberts drove into the lane, hoping for a game-winning layup. As he pumped midflight, McClain blocked/caught the ball and proceeded to wrap his arms around it. It was a weird amalgamation between blocking and catching a shot attempt. The play kept his team in contention, and allowed Bishop to win it moments later.

Post Season Tournament

Fans can catch McClain and Bishop in action Thursday at 6:30 PM in their opening round game versus McCluskey Chevrolet. Directly afterwards (7:30 PM) UC fans will get a look at the Miami U. Goodies battling Sean Kilpatrick on SLATS. Justin Jackson also plays for SLATS along with Kelvin Gaines and Anthony McBride.

The Deveroes Tournament actually begins Wednesday Night at the Woodward High School Gymnasium. There are two games, the first tipping at 6:30 PM. The 7:30 PM contest could have Dion Dixon and Yancy Gates suiting up, but both were absent Sunday.