Strawberry Mansion misses final shot, stumbles in state title game

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Another strong Strawberry Mansion playoff drive, another heartbreaking finish.

As they did two years ago, the Knights worked their way to the PIAA Class AA boys' basketball final only to come up short in their quest for gold. Saturday, with a late foul-line jumper by Khalil Meadows missing the mark, they bowed to South Fayette, 49-47, at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center.

The crushing defeat marked the end of Gerald Hendricks' coaching career. After 28 seasons at Strawberry Mansion, he retired with a 425-227 record.

"There are only two teams left in this division in the state of Pennsylvania," Hendricks said. "We're one of them. I wanted to be No. 1, but it didn't work out that way."

In 2007-08, the Knights advanced to the championship game before to losing to Jeannette, then led by Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, in overtime, 76-72.

The difference yesterday was a short follow by South Fayette's Tyler Henry with 25 seconds to go. Following a timeout with 10 ticks left, Strawberry Mansion got the ball in the hands of Devonte' "D.J." Newbill as planned, but Newbill, closely guarded on the right wing, tossed to an open Meadows out top.

Meadows' tying attempt, with two seconds showing on the clock, was left of the mark. "He had a better shot than me, so I gave it to him," Newbill said. "I trusted my teammate. He got a wide-open pull-up. He can hit it there."

South Fayette, District 7's No. 3 seed, claimed the school's first state championship in any sport.

"Our kids thought they had a chance even if nobody else did," Lions coach Rich Bonnaure said. "They knew, if they held them to one shot most times, they could win."

South Fayette guards Patrick Zedreck and Mike Lamberti each netted 17 points to lead the Lions.For Strawberry Mansion, Newbill, bound for Marquette, shot 5 for 13 from the field (1 for 3 from beyond the arc) and 4 for 4 from the free-throw line en route to 15 points.

"On that last play, (junior reserve guard) Josh Patterson would not let him get off a shot," Bonnaure said. "We didn't double him. I had faith in Josh."

Jamal Jones, a 6-foot-4 senior forward who joined Strawberry Mansion from Imhotep Charter in January, helped spark the Knights by posting 19 rebounds and 10 points. High-jumping sophomore lefty Khyree Wooten, who fouled out with 2:41 remaining, chipped in nine points.

"I don't want to blame anybody, but we had some bad plays down the stretch," Jones said. "On that last play, you've got to get the ball inside or attack the lane. We beat ourselves."

The Lions (24-5) went in front, 47-45, on Lamberti's two free throws with 1:10 remaining. Newbill's jumper at 0:37 evened things.

Said Hendricks, after exiting the locker room for the final time: "I'll miss being around the kids. But I can come to the games. Now, I can be the Monday-morning quarterback. I can second-guess someone else."

Strawberry Mansion   10 15 7 15 - 47

South Fayette   12 11 10 16 - 49

SM: Jamal Jones 10, Kyhree Wooten 9, Khalil Meadows 6, Devonte' Newbill 15, Marque Griffin 3, Cedrick Powell 2, Saadiq Berry 2.

SF: Christian Brumbaugh 3, Mike Burroughs 2, Tyler Henry 10, Patrick Zedreck 17, Mike Lamberti 17.