Clara Barton Panthers Clipped By Cougars

With 1:12 left on the clock in the fourth quarter and the Clara Barton Panthers trailing by a point to Medgar Evers College Prepatory School on Tuesday, Orlens Metellus' demeanor changed from one of elation to one of disappointment.

The Panther's senior forward drove baseline and banked in a layup while appearing to be fouled on the play.  However, he was called for an offensive foul and the Cougars regained possession.  Barton (0-4) never scored again in the contest and fell at home 36 to 32.

"That was a bad call," said Metullus. "It was disappointing and I was expecting us to win but that call just messed us up."

The finish was indeed disappointing for the Panthers who dominated the Cougars in the first half and jumped out to a 15 to 9 halftime lead.  Barton opened the third quarter with a 6-2 run to swell their lead to ten points.  However, Medgar Evers responded with an 8-0 run of to get right back into the game.

The Panthers never led by more than four points again as Joshua Salcedo (11 points) kept the Cougars at bay knocking down two three pointers in the second half.  Although Salcedo played strong along with Theo Andrews (10 points) the Cougars took a 33 to 32 lead with 3:14 left to play in the fourth.

Medgar Evers (4-0) decided to play keep-away and tossed the ball around the perimeter after taking the lead.  However, Barton forced Kenneth Bell to step out of bounds.  On the ensuing possession Metellus didn't get the score the Panthers desperately needed and it proved to be the difference in the game.

"That was the turning point of the game," said Panthers head coach Robert Sprance.  "The kids played great.  We played a good game and played them all the way until the last minute of the game but they had that one point and that's what happens."

Sprance was disappointed with the fact that his team lost their fourth consecutive game this season but was pleased with the effort against an undefeated team.  His players are aware that this was a game that they let slip away but believe that the team is finally coming together.

"Its tough because it was 15 to 9 at halftime and we should have won," said Salcedo. "But I can see that we are coming together. It is going to take a little bit of time but this game is an example of us coming together."

The Panther will look to put it all together on Thursday as they try to notch their first win of the season when they host the Dolphins of Leon M. Goldsteing High School For Science.