Cubs playoff heartbreak

Catching Air:
Cubs players Jordan Taylor and Ty Meyer jump for the ball during the Anderson boys basketball playoff game against Willows. The tight match ended when Willows came back to win in the final second of overtime 45-44.

With just seconds left in overtime, the Anderson boys rallied into a lead over Willows - but an almost half-court three pointer devastated the Cubs in the last second.

Cubs Zach Guibergia made two free throws that put his team ahead in the last eight seconds. But Anderson's 45-44 lead went up in flames in the last second of the game as Willows senior Cody Pastorino stole the win, 45-47, in the Northern Section Division IV quarterfinal on Friday.

"That wasn't just a little three pointer," Cubs coach Larry Newman said. "If there were four pointers that would have been a four pointer."

The disappointment felt by the players and fans shot like lightning through the gym. But Cubs coach Newman gave his team credit for a hard fight.

"I was very proud of them. They competed hard all the way, and we played like we wanted to play tonight," he said.

Anderson's coach credited Willows for a well thought out strategy that kept the Cubs in check.

"They were ready for a lot of what we do," he said.

While Willows kept power players Garrett McCurdy, with eight points, and Ty Meyer, with four points, in check, other Cubs players were able to consistently put the ball through the net.

Senior guard Jordan Taylor scored 13 points and Guibergia added 12 points and seven rebounds.

Just minutes after the heartbreaking loss, Cubs coach Newman reflected on the season's lessons.

"When they are 30-years-old, 35 or 45, they will really appreciate how much they learned this year - not just about basketball but what it means to commit to a group, what it means to work within a set of rules and be cooperative and respectful," the coach said.

"I think they will look back and say 'That's what our senior year did for us. They won't be talking about wins and losses."