ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH TO DO WHAT WE ASK YOU TO DO?

Panthers prove to be tough, upset rival Lobos
Friday January 16, 2009
Written by Heather Burr

“Are you tough enough to do what I ask you to do?” has been the theme for the Cypress Springs boys basketball team this season.

Coach John Harmatuk had to reiterate that to his team during halftime of Friday night's game with backyard rival Langham Creek.

The Panthers trailed by as much as 12 at one point, then proved to their coach that as a team they were tough enough to beat Langham Creek 71-70 in a District 15-5A game.

“When coach came in at halftime, we didn’t like what he said but we knew he was right,” said small forward Erik Williams, who ended with a game-high 33 points. “So we had to go out there and do what he said and God blessed us with the chemistry in the second half.”

Trailing by 11 at the half, the Panthers (8-15, 2-3) instantly got some points back with two baskets. Williams then hit the first 3-point shot for Cy Springs to bring the Panthers within five.

“Erik Williams spent the majority of the first half not being the guy,” Harmatuk said. “Then at halftime I told him, ‘Erik you’re the best player in our district and if we’re going to win this game you’re going to have to be tough enough to do what I ask you to do.’ And in the second half, he did.”

The game was on the line with the final eight minutes. Panther Marquell McKinney hit the shot to tie the game at 54. The Lobos (16-8, 4-1) stayed strong with baskets from Jessie Baines and Mackey McKnight. Jeremy Franklin got his hands on the ball with 1:25 left to bring the score within 1 point, 66-65 Lobos.

“My senior, Jeremy Franklin, made every single play defensively that he could make,” Harmatuk said. “He’s our energy.”

That energy held strong for 85 seconds.

It was back and forth scoring, each team trying to rack up points to get the win. Jeff Greene scored for Langham then McKinney scored for Cy Springs. It remained a one-point difference.

Baines was fouled on his shot and sunk both free throws, forcing the Panthers to either make a 3 or drain two baskets. Franklin went for the basket, was fouled, and make both of his free throw shots keeping the Panthers just one point behind.

On Langham’s inbound, the Lobos knocked the ball out of bounds, putting it in Cy Springs’ hands with just seconds on the clock. The ball was inbounded to Williams who sunk it like he had so many times that night to give the Panthers a 71-70 lead.

“That’s the best we’ve played all year,” Williams said. “This is just the start to what could be a great rest of the season.”

McKinney added 12 points and Franklin 10 for Springs.

McKnight had 16 points, Baines 14 and Greene 13 for the Lobos.