BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s boys’ varsity basketball team came so close to a coveted state championship last weekend with the score tied against C.M. Wright in overtime and the possession of the ball in the right hands in Torrey Brittingham, but it slipped away in the final seconds with the clock running down.
Last Thursday, the Seahawks won a thriller in the state 3A semifinals with a come-from-behind 66-61 win over Seneca Valley to reach the state championship game for the first time since 1971. With the win, Decatur won the right to face C.M. Wright in the state championship game just two days later and the Seahawks carried a lot of momentum and the hopes of the community on their collective shoulder.
Throughout the season and into the remarkable post-season run, Decatur relied on its up-tempo, fast-paced offense on their way to the state championship game. Last Saturday, however, C.M. Wright slowed the Seahawks’ pace and turned the game into a slow-down, half court defensive struggle. Decatur was up to the challenge and forced overtime, but a fateful stretch with the clock running down sealed the Seahawks’ fate.
After forcing overtime, the two teams were tied at 49-49 with around 30 seconds left in the extra period. Decatur got the ball in the right hands in Torrey Brittingham, who had scored a career-high 33 points in the semifinal win over Seneca Valley, but as Brittingham was ready to make a move on a possible game-winner, C.M. Wright stripped the ball away, leading to a game-winning fast-break lay-up down the other end. Decatur got one last second shot at a potential winning to tying basket, but it didn’t convert and the dream of a state championship slipped away on the floor of the Xfinity Center at the University of Maryland in College Park.
The disappointing loss did little to tarnish the remarkable run by the Seahawks. Decatur lost only one regular season game to rival Pocomoke way back in December and returned the favor against the Warriors at home in January. However, the Bayside South championship came down to a coin toss and the call went Pocomoke’s way.
Nonetheless, the Seahawks drew a number-one seed in the state 3A-East region tournament and cruised to the region championship game although it wasn’t always easy. Nothing came too easy for Decatur during the regionals as the Seahawks had their mettle tested along each step of the way. In the second round of the regional playoffs, the Seahawks were tested by a stiff challenge from Hammond, but eventually pulled out the 70-68 overtime win.
In the region championship game before a huge home crowd, the Seahawks battled Centennial for three quarters before eventually pulling away. The Seahawks pulled out the 65-47 win, the cut down the nets and celebrated the regional championship and a trip to College Park.
Last Thursday against Seneca Valley in the state semifinals, the Seahawks won a come-from-behind thriller over Seneca Valley to reach the state title game. Decatur trailed by four with under a minute to go, but Brittingham found Keve Aluma with a great assist and Aluma dunked it home to cut the lead to two. In the next sequence, Brittingham attempted a three-pointer, but was fouled. Brittingham calmly stepped to the line and knocked down all three free throws to give the Seahawks their first lead of the second half at 62-61.
Brittingham got a steal in Seneca Valley’s next possession and was fouled. Again, the prolific senior stepped to the line and knocked down two more free throws to extend the lead to 64-61. With just 14 seconds left, Darion McKenzie stole the ball and Kevon Voyles converted a fast-break lay-up to close out the remarkable comeback and the 66-61 win in the state semifinals.