The St. Alban Roe high school basketball league crowned a dynasty on March 13 when a team captained by senior Aaron Platts captured its fourth straight championship. Senior Mitch Porter scored a go-ahead layup in the final minute of the second overtime to give his team a 48-47 victory.
“I was by far the most intense game I’ve played in and probably St. Albans history,” Porter said, “Both teams played great and the other team put up a great fight. When I made that layup, it felt really good.”
Platts’ team, which consisted of all seniors, defeated an all-junior team led by Michael Mueller. The seniors were ahead for most of the game, but the juniors came back to take a two-point lead in the final minute of regulation. Senior Cameron Kennedy sent the game into overtime with last-minute tip-in off a miss by senior Adam Steinmetz.
After both teams failed to score a point in the first overtime, Porter cut to the basket on an inbound pass and scored the winning layup with 30 seconds remaining. The senior team consisted of Drew Garrone, Chris Hall, Mike Hallums, Cameron Kennedy, Platts, Porter, Thomas Riddick and Adam Steinmetz.
“It feels good. We took care of business and it means a lot because we’re all good friends. It’s a good way to end our basketball careers,” senior Chris Hall said.
Mueller’s team finished 7-2 in its first season in the league and consisted of Dominic Bisesi, Brock Behrndt, Will Dupont, Anders Fladda, Kyle Glennon and Tyler Manne.
“We had team chemistry that was off the charts. I’ll always remember Anders Fladda trying to dunk every practice and not being able to do it,” Bisesi said.
