Carvers Bay wins Dental Shootout on buzzer beater
By Chris Sokoloski
csokoloski@gtowntimes.com
Da'Shaun Aiken hit a buzzer beater from beyond half court to lift Carvers Bay over Georgetown in the championship game of the Georgetown Dental Shootout last week.
It was the second year in a row the Bears broke the Bulldogs' hearts in the finals. Last year the teams battled through four overtimes before Carvers Bay prevailed 66-64.
"They had the right gameplan for us right now early in the season, because we have not worked on our zone that much," said Bears coach Jeff Mezzatesta. "They did a great job of getting back on defense and stopping us from getting our fast break in."
"[Aiken] made an outstanding, magnificent shot to win the game for them," said Georgetown head coach Alvin Walker. "Carvers Bay is a good team with a capital 'G.' "
Georgetown led 8-5 after the first quarter and extended it to 20-14 at the halftime.
The Bears outscored the Bulldogs 10-4 in the third quarter to tie the game going into the fourth.
Both teams scored 14 points in the fourth to send the game to overtime.
Georgetown had a three-point lead as time was winding down, but Carvers Bay cut it to one-point with about 10 seconds left. Georgetown then tried a long pass on the inbounds play, which was caught by Carvers Bay's Rayshad Dorsey, who called timeout with 1.8 seconds left.
Aiken grabbed the inbounds pass near the Georgetown bench and put up the game-winner as the buzzer sounded.
"The shot felt good, but now it's on to the next thing," Aiken said.
"Da'Shaun is a winner," Mezzatesta said. "He's the kind of kid you like to have on the team."
Walter Linnen had 18 points and three steals to lead the Carvers Bay offense. Aiken had 13 points and seven rebounds, Chris Carter had three rebounds, and Dorsey had three steals.
Anthony Blair had 10 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Georgetown offense. Dae'Quan Gibson had nine points, Charlie McGirt had eight points and nine rebounds, A.J. Walker had five points and five rebounds, and Stephon Cuttino had four steals.
"People might be sleeping on us but we have a chance to have a really good year," coach Walker said.
Although Walker said Hemingway quitting in the fourth quarter against Carvers Bay was "uncalled for," he deemed this year's tournament, especially the championship game, a success.
"For the least two years the people have gotten their money's worth in the championship game between us and Carvers Bay," Walker said.
"This tournament is phenomenal," Mezzatesta said. "It's so much fun to be a part of."