It's doubtful anything could have stopped GA's Dotson

It's a good thing Jim Fenerty is not involved in preparing the NFL's weekly injury lists.

Bettors everywhere would not be his friend.

Fenerty is deep into his 24th season as Germantown Academy's basketball coach and Friday night, before an extremely important Inter-Ac League game, he would have labeled senior small forward Greg Dotson as questionable, with a tilt toward doubtful.

As for Dotson . . . He would have whipped up new terminology, something along the lines of No Doubt I'll Be Out There. Forget About Any Other Possible Scenario.

"I knew what this game meant to all of us," Dotson said. "No way I wasn't playing. I took some painkillers to make things a little easier for me, and just sucked it up from there. On a night like tonight, that's what you HAVE to do. No other option. This was NO night to sit down."

Visiting GA 78, Haverford School 53.

That was the final score, but the good vibrations did not end when those numbers became frozen on the scoreboard.

See, the victory enabled the 8-0 Patriots to clinch the championship with two games remaining.

A hint of joy was visible while the players were still in the gym. Then they scrambled downstairs, stopped in a hallway outside their locker room and . . . let the craziness begin!

They hugged each other. Slapped each other. Lifted each other. While spraying each other with water from numerous squeeze bottles.

Maybe 15 minutes later, when the Patriots headed back upstairs, they were greeeted with loud applause from parents and students who'd decided to hang around.

In either locale, here's hoping no one bumped against Dotson's left hip.

He hurt it Wednesday -- falling hard to the floor after trying to block a shot -- in a non-league game against Peddie School, of New Jersey. Though he attended Thursday's practice, he mostly remained inactive. Against the Fords, the 6-5, 200-pound pogosticker contributed 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three apiece of steals/blocks.

His first bucket was highly impressive: A wolf-down off a baseline drive.

Dotson, who leans toward shy-guy status, was pretty excited after the Patriots gave Fenerty his 13th title title (ninth outright).

"This is the greatest feeling I've ever had in a basketball game!" he gushed. "Being 8-0 and already having the championship . . . greatest feeling ever!"

Dotson was a partner in a pseduo law firm called Awkward & Airball.

Early in the game, he looked semi-clumsy while trying to score on a tap and Haverford's boisterous student rooters immediately began chanting, "Awwwwk-ward . . . Awwwwk-ward." They stuck with it thereafter, repeating it every time Dotson gained possession. "Aiiiirball . . . Aiiiirball" was continually directed at senior point guard Nick Lindner, who missed everything on a first-quarter bid for a trey.

"I heard them," Dotson said, laughing. "I didn't pay it any mind. Completely ignored them and kept playing the game."

Played it well, too.

Schools such as Penn, Brown, Lafayette (Lindner's future home) and Canisius are pursuing Dotson with passion and the Ivy League could be his next stop, assuming a few more SAT points are earned. Depending on needs/development, he'll play wing guard or small forward.

"I try to do everything that's asked of me," Dotson said. "I can play big. I can play small. I'm an all-in-one player. I pride myself on that."

Dotson lives in Roslyn and began his high school days at Abington. He transferred to GA, which he'd thought of attending two years earlier, for a repeat-sophomore year and was ineligible for league play, per Inter-Ac rules, in the 2010-11 season.

"I knew GA would be a great basketball situation," Dotson said. "But I mostly came for the education. It's been great ever since. The education, the people, the basketball . . . I love everything about it.

"It was tough (not playing league games two year ago), but I stayed involved. I talked to the guys as much as I could. Tried to help them."

The final was somewhat misleading. Haverford trailed by 42-36 entering the fourth quarter, but then was slapped around.

Thanks to three treys and a 15-for-17 performance at the line, Lindner finished with 24 points (and eight assists). James Drury added 22 points (five treys) and five dimes. Center Julian Moore (Penn State) had 13 points (three dunks) and seven rebounds.

HS soph guard Levan "Shawn" Alston managed 18 points, but wound up with just two assists and never did get to the line due to Lindner's defensive approach. Football commits Sema'j Reed (Buffalo) and Chris Morgan (Colgate) tallied 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Dotson wants to major in psychology.

"I'm interested in the science of the mind," he said. "It intrigues me. I had a class in that at my old school and I really loved it."