Keeping fans on the edge of their seats in another tight division game has been the trademark this winter for the Bordentown Regional High School boys’ basketball team.
Add another overtime thriller to the list when Bordentown squared off with Burlington City High School on Jan. 22 at Burlington City.
Burlington City was about to pull off the victory when the Blue Devils connected on a three-point basket with 14 seconds remaining in overtime. That basket enabled Burlington City to pull ahead by two points.
But no need to panic, so said Bordentown’s standout junior forward, Jordan Martin.
“They hit a [three-point shot], and they thought they were going to win, but I said ‘Push that – push that,’” Martin said.
Bordentown played down to the final ticks of the clock and it was Martin’s turn to deliver the key blow.
Martin drained a three-pint basket from the right side just before time expired to hand the Scotties a thrilling 85-84 victory.
For Bordentown coach John Myers, the dramatic OT triumph felt symbolic of what his program has done over the years.
“That’s just been the Bordentown way since I’ve been here for six years. Adjust and figure out how to grind, and that’s what we did,” Myers said. “This is just what it is. They’re big-game kids. They never give up – ever. I love this team, and when they played as hard as they did in that second half, they’re dangerous. I’m so proud of them. We’ve got to keep this going.”
The game was extended to overtime due a dramatic fourth period by the Scotties.
“The back-and-forth scoring, I knew it was going to happen because [Burlington City] has some great players,” Myers said.The host Blue Devils were seemed headed to the victory in this Burlington County Scholastic League Freedom Division game.
Burlington City was ahead by four points in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, but the Scotties received some life when the Blue Devils were hit with a technical foul, which sent Bordentown’s Gavin Shiver to the foul line.
Shiver converted both shots to bring the Scotties within two points.
But Bordentown was not finished. The Scotties got the ball after the technical shots and again it was Shiver who came up big in the clutch when he put in a layup as time expired in the fourth period to force OT.
Myers was left speechless on Shiver’s comeback performance.
“If you walk up with a technical foul and you make [both shots], and then make two more points – I can’t do it any justice,” Myers said.
With the Scotties facing an overtime period to decide the victor, Martin said it took a team effort in the period to come out on top.
“[Going into overtime] we were just trying to stay on defense, get our man, play our zone, play our positions and talk,” Martin said. “That’s what everyone did. That’s how we came out with our [win].”
Martin was also a hero in another dramatic league game when he sank a last-second layup in Bordentown’s 68-66 victory over Rancocas Vaalley on Jan. 8.
With the victory over Burlington City along with another victory against Delran at home on Jan. 24, Bordentown moved to the top of the Freedom Division.
“It’s all about the division,” Myers said. “I know [the team] doesn’t like me saying it, but tomorrow I’m going to walk into practice and say, ‘It’s the next game. Enjoy it, but it’s the next game.’”
