Lennon’s buzzer-beater downs Pasco
It’s a senior night that Tristan Lennon will never forget.
The senior forward broke free with a screen with just two seconds on the clock and the score tied 49-49 against rival Pasco. He took the pass sprung up from about 12 feet out and smoothly canned the game-winner over a host of Pirate defenders.
So, on his final game on his home court, on his senior night, he dropped the game winner with less than two seconds to play to beat his arch-rival. Not a bad night.
“It means a lot, because they beat us last time and that was the only time I ever lost to them in my life,” Lennon said after being swarmed by teammates. “It was a taste of revenge.”
Lennon finished with 13 points with his last two meaning the most. Julius Denson also dropped 13 to pace the Bulldogs. Lennon and Denson had just four points each in the first half, but the Bulldogs put on a show in the second half.
“That was one of the best two or three I’ve had here as a coach,” said Zephyrhills Coach Mike Novak, who is in his eighth season with the Bulldogs. “It’s because of what this win meant. We struggled this year, and we were down 17. We kept missing and we kept telling them to keep shooting and the ball will fall.”
The Bulldog struggled in the first half and trailed the Pirates 29-17 at halftime. Pasco went on a 17-1 run from the first quarter deep into the second and it looked bleak for Zephyrhills.
Zephyrhills outscored Pasco 34-20 in the second half. Strong, stingy defense held the Pirates to just six points in the fourth quarter as the Bulldog canned 14.
“One basket at a time and then we had a string of baskets. It was like an avalanche,” Novak said.
At halftime, Novak honored his four seniors, Lennon, Samaryn “Truck Driver” Black, Chris Vega and Quan Haggins. Lennon and Black are four-year players at Zephyrhills, while Haggins and Vega are first-year players for the Bulldogs.
“What can you say about Tristan and “Truck”? They are football players who dedicate a lot of time to football, but love the game of basketball,’ Novak said. “Quan and Chris have great attitudes. They show such maturity. It’s just outstanding.”