San Fernando Triumphs on Disputed Shot at the Buzzer

Such is the stuff of which a high school playoff basketball game is made: emotional student sections, coaches who ignore their seats all game long, players sprawling on the hardwood for loose balls.

And, of course, a last-second finish.

All of the aforementioned elements--and more--were present Wednesday night at Reseda, where San Fernando’s Russell Baldwin wore the hero’s crown after banking in an offensive rebound at the buzzer to give the visiting Tigers a heart-stopping, 58-56 quarterfinal win over Reseda in the City Section 3-A Division playoffs.

Or did he?

Reseda might not be so quick to believe.

Controversy reared its head after the game as Reseda Coach Jeff Halpern and his team vehemently argued that Baldwin’s three-foot shot came after the buzzer. San Fernando’s Michael Wynn had missed a 10-foot jump shot with two seconds left.

“The official waved it off,” Halpern said tersely. “Then his partner came over and pulled him aside and they ran off the court.”

Official Jerry Cord, who coaches varsity baseball at Poly, denied the accusation.

“No, that’s not true,” he said, leaving the premises. “I waved my arms to signal that the game was over after the shot.”

For San Fernando Coach Dick Crowell, the point is moot. The blurry finish was crystal clear in his eyes: His team (16-6) advances to play Fremont on Friday in the semifinals.

“Baldwin has won two games for us now with big-time play,” a beaming Crowell said, referring to a last-second shot that beat Kennedy earlier this year.

Baldwin, who scored a game-high 26 points, was all too happy to oblige again.

“There was no play,” the senior said of the final seconds. “But when Mike shot, the ball just popped right into my hands. I went right to the basket.”

Reseda (13-9) fell prey early to larger San Fernando’s imposing defense and full-court press. Turnovers led to a 19-9 Tiger lead just five minutes into the game. A Reseda timeout cured those ills as senior guard Mike Basowski (team-high 18 points, six three-point baskets) rained in three consecutive three-point shots to make the score 21-18 to open the second quarter.

Thus resurrected, Reseda’s offense, run with fervor by junior point guard James Chen, attacked and attacked. A Marquis Wilborn follow shot with 2 minutes 51 seconds left in the third quarter gave Reseda its first lead since the opening seconds at 42-40.

From there, the Regents appeared in control. But after Chen hit two free throws to give Reseda a 54-51 lead with 4:44 remaining, Tiger guard Marco Renteria drilled a crucial three-point shot to tie the score, 54-54, setting the stage for the big finish.

Wilborn, who finished with 13 points, scored Reseda’s final basket with 1:50 left on an offensive rebound, tying the score, 56-56, and San Fernando stalled until the final seconds.

Afterward, amid the congratulatory slaps on the back, Crowell took a step back to evaluate the situation. It seemed, after all, that the adage about being both lucky and good was never more appropriate.

“Oh, you got that right,” he said.