Marsalis Hamilton Hits Shot of a Lifetime as Eagles Win State Title
Adam Williams `14
It had been sixteen years since St. Edward had won a Basketball State Championship. On Saturday night in Columbus, Marsalis Hamilton was not willing to wait much longer. Their journey to this game included some of the toughest opponents in the state. But, the eagles prevailed convincingly in every contest, even winning the state semi-final game against East Tech by nearly 30 points. The state championship game, however, was appropriately the toughest battle of the eagles long season. After being out-shot and out-schemed for the first three quarters, it seemed to almost everyone in the arena that the eagles would face yet another disappointing state final four end. That is, everyone except the players on the St. Edward Bench. Fighting back with all of their strength, the eagles were able to stay into the game. Junior Kipper Nichols provided 25 points to give the eagles a shot to take the title in the fourth quarter. This opportunity was not easy, though. The Golden Bears of Upper Arlington High School went up by six points with two minutes to go. But the eagles fought back, bringing it to a one point game with fifteen seconds left. But then, the Division I Coach of the Year, Upper Arlington's Tim Casey, drew up what would have been the play of the year. Passing the ball to another in-bounder, senior Danny Hummer ran down the floor unaccounted for, laying in an easy two points. With the Upper Arlington fans chanting, "I believe that we have won", the eagles drew up an in-bounds play looking for Tony Vuyanchi to shoot a three to tie the game. Much like the rest of the season, this play did not work out the way it had been drawn up. The eagles would not be denied. Adopting the "Never Ever Give Up" mentality of Big Mike Orbany, the most unlikely of shooters took the shot and drained it. Marsalis Hamilton, leader of the team all year, who was only 2-9 on three point tries this year, sunk the greatest shot in St. Edward Basketball history. Why wouldn't it be Marsalis? The second brother to Myles, who together, were the constants, the faces of St. Edward Basketball for a great six year stretch? On the last shot ever taken by a Hamilton in the green and gold, it had to be Marsalis. Forcing overtime, the eagles continued to fight, and were crowned Division I basketball State Champions.