#2 Goes Down

East Side edges Science on Smith's FT, 52-51

Sunday, February 15, 2009

BY MIKE KINNEY
For the Star-Ledger

There was no time left on the clock, no comfort to derive from his first free throw and no thought in Demetrius Smith's head, except how disappointed his teammates would be if he missed the second shot.

"I couldn't let my team down," he said. "I just had to follow through and bend my knees."

After his first free throw clanged off the rim, Smith's second with time expired bounced teasingly above the iron, then dropped through to give East Side a 52-51 victory over undefeated and top-seeded Science Park, No. 2 in The Star-Ledger Top 20 and defending champion, last night in the Essex County Tournament quarterfinals at West Orange High.

It was Science Park's first loss since falling to St. Anthony of Jersey City last March in the Tournament of Champions final.

That winning free throw was Smith's second clutch shot down the stretch for eighth-seeded East Side. He'd buried a long 3-pointer with 35.1 seconds left to tie the game at 49-49, just nine seconds after Science Park opened a three-point lead with two free throws by Amir Gilliam.

"It feels great to do that. I messed up a couple of times during the season, but I just kept working in practice," Smith said. "It just shows, if you keep working, keep fighting, the record don't mean nothing."

East Side freshman Kasim Chandler proved that experience can also be overrated. He finished with 18 points and played with cool composure in the final quarter against a team with a history of rattling opposing guards.

Chandler's 3-pointer opened a 45-40 lead with 4:20 remaining and he later forged a 51-49 lead on two free throws with nine seconds left. Science Park senior Kenneth Ortiz knotted the score three seconds later with two free throws.

Chandler then dribbled after catching the inbound, met Science's trap and squeezed his way out to find Smith open in the frontcourt for his decisive drive. He dribbled hard to the basket and was hit as he released.

"I saw him. I just tried to get through the double team and work the seam that was open," Chandler said.

East Side gave itself opportunities with Chandler's playmaking and the tough inside play of 6-7 senior Eddie Brown. But he fouled out with 3:03 to play and 6-5 teammate Aaron Bodie fouled out less than a minute later to leave a sizable void in the lane.