On Wednesday, January 3, 2018, the Midlo Trojans Men’s Basketball team hosted the rival Cosby Titans in what shaped up to be one of the most thrilling games of the season. Henry Davis led the way with 16 points on 6/12 shooting from the field, while Justin Penn added a team high 7 rebounds. In a game fueled by emotion and intensity, Midlo edged out a 59-58 victory in the final seconds of a triple overtime game, for their fifth win of the season. Senior Omar Jackson highlighted this intensity perfectly, saying, “I like to win, but I love to beat Cosby.”.

Midlo controlled the opening tip off, setting up a meticulous first possession that ended with Will Brown finishing hard in the paint, off an assist from Will Pomeroy. Late in the possession, Brown caught a pass at the top key and was instantly harassed by a double team, leaving Pomeroy open to his right. After making a tough pass to Pomeroy, one defender left Brown to cover Pomeroy, while the other tried to stay with Brown, but couldn’t keep him, as he cut to the elbow, finding the soft spot in the zone. Pomeroy slipped him a bounce pass in stride, giving Brown an open lane, one-on-one with the center, where he faded to the right baseline drilling an eight foot jumper right in the center’s face. This type of slow, well planned, and well timed offensive execution shaped Midlo’s offense the entire game and really has the entire season.

Turnovers, however, proved to be the Trojans’ most glaring issue, as they finished the game with 21 total, contributing to the team’s lackluster 26 points at halftime. Midlo’s swarming defense and a decisive win in the rebounding battle was enough to propel the Trojans to a 7 point lead going into the fourth quarter, but the Titans were not ready to go home just yet. Midlo’s lead evaporated almost instantly, leaving the score 38-37 Midlo with just 3:27 left in the game. With just under a minute remaining, Davis hauled in a huge offensive rebound, setting up Caleb Edmonds in the low post for a smooth 9 foot jump hook right in the defender’s face. Cosby’s number 15, Isaiah Simmons, came up big, sinking 2 clutch free throws with seven seconds left. After a quick timeout, Coach David Brohl and his team faced one of the most amazing, yet daunting feelings in basketball, a chance to win the game at the buzzer. Inbounding from his own baseline, Penn hit Pomeroy streaking up court, shaking his first defender with a filthy dribble behind the back, then straight into the heart of the Cosby defense, forcing them to collapse around the ball handler. Pomeroy then made the perfect play, dishing an absolute dime to Davis, standing wide open in the left corner for a chance at instant glory, a game-winning three. However, he missed, sending the game to overtime.  

The first two overtime periods continued as a defensive struggle, with both teams failing to take decisive control over the game. Late into the third overtime period, the game remained tied, and with 40 seconds left and ineffective offensives from both sides, a fourth overtime period seemed imminent until the Titans made a critical, game-changing mistake. As Brown set a pick for Pomeroy at the top of the key, Pomeroy’s defender made the initial right decision to fight over the pick, but got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, drawing a crucial reach in foul. This foul put Midlo into the double bonus, sending Pomeroy to the line for two shots. With the game on the line, Pomeroy stepped up, hitting one of his two free throws, giving Midlo the lead once again in the closing seconds of the period. Cosby’s last chance effort at a half court heave came up short, solidifying the Trojans’ fifth win of the season. Midlo looks to build off this hard fought win against Huguenot on January 11th, on Huguenot’s home court.