Sports
Miracle Run Done—Roxborough's Season Ends
Boys' Latin went on a 20-2 run starting at the end of the first period to end a difficult season.
The Roxborough Indians' season, steeped in tragedy by the of leading scorer Rashawn "Shawnee" Anderson, ended Thursday afternoon at the High School of the Future, where they fell to Boys' Latin 74-50 in the opening round of the Public League playoffs.
The Indians, many of whom wore white headbands with "RIP 12"—Anderson's number—etched in black marker in memory of their fallen teammate, had lost to the Warriors on Jan. 6 and struggled again Thursday to contain the now 18-5 team.
"I'm upset. I fought hard, we fought hard, and we lost. We came in fighting," said a visibly exhausted Lijha Lewis after the game.
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The Indians appeared in the early going to have carried over the momentum from their over South Philadelphia. Led by Lewis, they attacked the net relentlessly, attempted 19 free-throws, and grabbed five offensive rebounds in playing the Warriors to within two, 16-14, in the game's first seven minutes before a 20-2 Latin run effectively ended the underdog's season.
By halftime, after a flurry of Warrior threes, they were down 27.
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"It could have been better," said a despondent Samson Akano, summing up the game and the season it punctuated. "It could have been better," he insisted when asked if he saw any silver linings.
Montrel Thompkins was likewise disappointed the Indians had fallen short. That they outscored Latin 19-9 in the final period came as no consolation to the senior.
"I'm sorry we had to go out like this," he said.
It was an unsatisfying conclusion to a season that tested Roxborough in ways the extend well beyond the usual travails of prep sports.
Indians head coach Terrell Burnett said despite their performance against Latin, it was a test they passed.
"Today was a let down. We didn't have the same enthusiasm (as against South Philly). We didn't take care of the ball, didn't shoot as well. Some guys tried to do more than they should have done. (But) we're happy to be where we got," the coach said.
"And the team handled (the tragedy) pretty well. They're trying to concentrate on the game."
It hasn't been easy for them. It won't get any easier.
"Practice (this week) was hard," said Lewis as his team headed towards the bus, his high school basketball career over. "It's hard everyday without Shawnee."
