Having a senior lead guard can be so important.
And when United Concordia (Susquehanna Twp.) stepped into a huddle with just under two seconds to play — the game was deadlocked 40-all — Gabe Mack read the situation and promptly offered counsel to his teammate inbounding the ball.
Especially since the basketball, to be taken out under the L.B. Smith Ford-Lincoln (Cumberland Valley) hoop, was ticketed for big man Savalas Pope or Mack’s sharp-shooting younger brother, Bud.
“I told Nebiy [Esays] that they’re going to switch [defensively], they’ve been doing that all game,” Mack said. “So the likelihood of [the 6-6 Pope] having a guard on him is probably going to happen.
"So if Bud’s not open, just lob it to Savalas. And that’s what happened.”
What happened next is Pope, after latching on to the inbounds pass, promptly authored a 10-foot turnaround jumper that kissed off the rim, bounced into the air and tumbled through the hoop as the buzzer sounded.
Final score: United Concordia 42, L.B. Smith 40.
Gabe Mack, Pope and Bud Mack shared 36 points — Gabe Mack also yanked down a team-high six rebounds and split six assists with his brother — as United Concordia collared its second straight Hoffman Ford Summer Basketball League championship Monday night at steamy Central Dauphin High School.
Matt Tamanosky racked up 18 points and grabbed eight boards for L.B. Smith, which trailed 29-18 early in the second half.
Tamanosky’s finish, off a Collin Schutjer dish, promptly triggered a 9-0 spurt that put Mike Hibbs’ club in business.
Tamanosky, a 6-5 rising senior, also flashed several mid-range jumpers.
“He’s very fundamental,” Pope said. “He has nice post moves, a good up-and-under. When he didn’t have the ball in his hands, I played three-quarters. And when he did get the ball, it’s my responsibility to get behind him and play straight-up defense.
“Or, he’s gonna get the buckets.”
Well, Tamanosky picked up plenty of buckets.
So, too, did the United Concordia trio of Pope and the Mack brothers.
While the Macks answered with a 7-2 run that restored order temporarily — and gave United Concordia a 36-29 advantage — Smith’s John Peterson buried a trey from the right wing that pulled L.B. Smith within one (38-37).
Just 3:23 remained.
Although Tamanosky and Pope swapped finishes at the rack, Gabe Mack had a chance to extend United Concordia’s tenuous lead (40-39) but missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and L.B. Smith rebounded.
Moments later, with 34.9 to go, Schutjer canned the back end of a two-shot trip to the line to make it 40-all.
United Concordia held for the final shot, but Tamanosky kept the game tied by blocking a power move by Quintin Ward and the ball skipped out of play. What followed was Pope’s last-second effort that fell … eventually.
Thanks to a friendly rim.
“Very friendly rim,” Gabe Mack cracked.
“It was just put it up and, if I miss it, just follow my shot — because most likely they weren’t going to box out, they were just going to watch,” Pope said.
“But I got the lucky bounce and it went in, so I was relieved.”
United Concordia was relieved earlier — and a bit worn down — after holding off fast-closing Sports Paradise (Bishop McDevitt) 71-62 to reach the Hoffman final. L.B. Smith bested Black Cats (C.D. East) 50-43 in the other semi.
Worn down or not, a United Concordia outfit that played without Joe Marshall (ankle) and had three others (Takhi Turner, Jordan Millberry and Lawrence Holley) at a 7-on-7 football scrimmage claimed its second straight Hoffman.
Last year’s Hoffman title propelled United Concordia/Susquehanna Twp to a 25-5 record highlighted by a Mid-Penn Keystone title. Third in the District 3-AAA playoffs, the Indians also advanced to the second round of states.
Maybe after winning another Hoffman, more neat things await.
“The biggest thing about the summer time is we’ve got guys that are not experienced playing right now,” Gabe Mack said.
“We’ve got Joe out and some other guys are at football, so right now the guys that are playing are getting a little bit of experience going into the season.”
Still, there’s nothing like having a veteran lead guard on hand.
MICHAEL BULLOCK:mbullock@pennlive.com
BULLOCK ON TWITTER: @thebullp_n