Mike Smith helps Amityville rally to win Fred Williams Tournament final in OT
Amityville's Leland Williams drives to the basket for two points during the second quarter. (Dec. 6, 2013) Credit: James Escher
This one had a touch of class.
Brentwood, a preseason favorite to be the best team in Class AA, and Amityville, expected to be the best team in Class A, put on an entertaining and exciting early-season show Friday night. Host Amityville rallied from a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to win in overtime, 81-78, in the Fred Williams Tournament final.
In the battle of Mikes, MVP Mike Smith led the Warriors (2-0) with 33 points, 11 in the fourth quarter and four more in overtime. Mike Almonacy scored 20 of his 27 points in the first half for the Indians.
Almonacy wilted a bit in the second half against Amityville's trapping defense and didn't hit a field goal after intermission until the final seconds of the fourth quarter -- but it was a big one. He made a steal and stepped back for a clutch three-pointer with 5.5 seconds left that tied it at 75 and forced the extra period.
Smith hit a breakaway layup 13 seconds into overtime and the Warriors never relinquished the lead. He also drove the lane for another basket and a 79-76 advantage.
Almonacy answered with a reverse that cut it to one, but Mykel McLamb and Travis Dickerson (15 points) each sank a free throw and Brentwood was unable to get off a decent shot in the final minute.
"We're all about defense," Smith said. "In the second half, we were all intensity and we got our steals going."
Brentwood went ahead 66-57 early in the fourth quarter, but Smith drained back-to-back threes from deep on the right wing and the comeback was on. Jamel Allen (13 points) made two free throws to put the Indians ahead 72-65 with 2:20 left, but then Brentwood hit a wall.
Dickerson made a driving layup, Smith sank a trey from the left wing and Phil McCloud hit two free throws to tie it at 72 with 1:32 left.
Dickerson drained a three-pointer from the corner with 33 seconds left and Amityville, after gaining possession on a turnover, appeared to be in control. "I thought we had the game right there," Dickerson said. "Our defense really pressured the ball."
Then Almonacy applied his own defense to force the extra four-minute period.
"This was a game of spurts. They're streaky and we're streaky," Amityville coach Jack Agostino said. "We were able to get our spurt toward the end of regulation. I can't believe there was this kind of intensity for a game this time of year."
