Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - Coach Graham Sims: A Pennsylvania Story (FBCB)

MoonlightGraham · 11-03-2023, 07:07 PM

March 7, 2025
The NCAA Championship Game
San Antonio, Texas: The Alamodome

Let's join Lafayette radio broadcasters Chris Willingham and DeWitt Leiva, Lafayette '11, as they bring us the highlights from tonight's championship game.

CHRIS: This is Vanderbilt's third consecutive trip to the national final. [Head coach] Steven Rubalcaba has plenty of experience on this stage. And, don't forget, these two teams have met in the Final Four once before...and the Commodores beat the Leopards on the way to the 2019 national championship.

DeWITT: I talked with Coach Sims before the game, and he says the team is ready. I noticed that, too...there's a quiet confidence about them. They're used to winning. I think Kenton Lashley's presence is an intangible factor that will help this team. Kenton has a ring [2024, North Carolina]. They've seen it. Kenton knows what it takes to finish the job.

CHRIS: That's right, DeWitt. Let's see if they can do it. The ball's in the air...Kenton Howell wins the tip for the Commodores, and the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball championship game is underway...

CHRIS: Under 30 seconds to go now, first half, as Kamari [Stone] brings it into the frontcourt for the Leopards. The lead's changed hands several times in this first half, and Vandy's on top now, 32-28.

DeWITT: They'll be playing for one shot now, I think. They really don't want Vanderbilt to get the ball with a chance to score again.

CHRIS: Stone has it, right side. He finds Ritchie down low...Howell closes on him and Kurt kicks it back out. Eight seconds left now. Stone swings it to Lashley in the left corner...K-Lash lets it go...It's GOOD!

DeWITT: What a great first half. This is what this game should be like. It's the NCAA final.

CHRIS: Vandy has one second. [Jamison] To is just going to chuck it from the backcourt...not even close. At halftime, your score is Vanderbilt 32, Lafayette 31. This is the Lafayette Athletics radio network...

CHRIS: Just over fourteen minutes to play now. Lafayette's up six. [Tony] Wyss has it on the left side. Lashley's playing him tight. To [Garrett] Murray in the corner. He's trapped there...

DeWITT: He stepped on the baseline...

CHRIS: He's out of bounds. That's some outstanding defense from Lashley and Stone there.

CHRIS: Stone brings it up for the Leopards. To McGriff, left corner. Back to Stone. Kamari, for three...count it! It's 47-38; the biggest lead of the game for Lafayette!

DeWITT: Look at their body language, Chris. They're believing in themselves now. The neutral fans want them to win this thing...

CHRIS: Twelve minutes left now. [Charles] Allen has it...Vandy pressing full court. To Lashley, left wing...

DeWITT: Pull it!...

CHRIS: It's good! Lafayette up TWELVE now, 53-41!

DeWITT: Lashley's playing with some swagger. He was wagging his finger in that dude's face. He's gotta be careful...

CHRIS: We're at the Alamodome in San Antonio. There are six and a half minutes to play in the national championship game. Lafayette up eleven, 60-49. [Isaac] Dumont dribbles out to the left wing. Back to To, top of the key. Into the corner to [Jefferson] Beaumont. He'll drive and score and there's a whistle...

DeWITT: [Bret] Bryant got him. That's a strong move by Beaumont to score through contact.

CHRIS: Beaumont at the line. He's a 67 percent free throw shooter. It's good. Vanderbilt's cut the lead back to single digits now...

CHRIS: The clock is Lafayette's friend right now; they're maintaining that eight-point lead. It's 62-54, three-and-a-half minutes left to play. [Robert] Mackenzie has it. To Howell in the high post. Back out to Mackenzie, and there's a whistle.

DeWITT: That's a tough call. I thought Charles was playing good defense there.

CHRIS: Charles thinks so, too. He's arguing the call vehemently...

DeWITT: Kurt has hold of him, trying to lead him away before he gets T'ed up.

CHRIS: Too late. Allen is hit with a technical foul, and that's his fifth personal. Charles Allen has fouled out, and perhaps even more importantly, Vanderbilt's about to shoot four free throws...

CHRIS: Tony Wyss makes both shots. 62-56 Lafayette now, and Mackenzie will shoot now; he's the player Allen fouled. The first one bounces in and out. Second shot; it's good. The Leopards' lead is down to five, with just over three minutes to play!

DeWITT: This one's far from over, Chris. This Vanderbilt team has been here before...

CHRIS: We have a finish befitting a championship game. Vanderbilt trailed by 11 points five minutes ago. Now, with 1:50 left, it's all tied up at 62.

DeWITT: Vanderbilt's on a 13-2 run. Come on, guys. We need a big stop here!...

CHRIS: Under a minute left, still tied at 62. Micah to Lashley in the right corner. He'll dribble back out. Jamison To guarding him. He'll swing it to [Jeffrey] Hampton, left side. Back out to Rodriguez. Shot clock running down...

DeWITT: We gotta hurry...

CHRIS: To Hampton; he takes it up and scores! Lafayette 64, Vanderbilt 62, 52 seconds left!...

CHRIS: Beaumont has it. To Howell, on the baseline...he scores and there's a whistle! Kurt Ritchie got a piece of him going up, but Howell powered through the contact and scored.

DeWITT: That's a tough break for Kurt and a good play by Howell. Howell hasn't touched the ball a lot today...

CHRIS: That's only Howell's second basket of the night, but it's a HUGE one. The score is tied at 64, and there are 19 seconds on the clock. Howell will shoot the "and one."

DeWITT: Oh, no. Stone's limping. He has to come out of there.

CHRIS: Duncan Sims is checking in. He's a shooter and I'm sure Coach Rubalcaba knows it. Here's the free throw...it's no good! The rebound comes out to Sims...

DeWITT: Here we go...this is it!

CHRIS: Sims into the front court. Hands it to Rodriguez. Micah to McGriff, back to Micah...he drives the baseline...shot goes up...it's no good, but there's a whistle...

DeWITT: Oh my...

CHRIS: The shot didn't go in, but they've called a foul! I think it's on Tony Wyss. There are 1.3 seconds on the clock, and Micah Rodriguez will shoot two free throws! It's 64-64.

DeWITT: They've done such a good job on Micah tonight. He's found good shots hard to come by.

CHRIS: Kenton Lashley spoke to Micah while they're lining up. So did Kurt Ritchie. Micah steps to the line. He's a 77 percent free throw shooter for the year. First one's up. It's good! The second...IT IS GOOD!

DeWITT: *exhales audibly* He did it! That's HUGE... *laughs loudly*

CHRIS: Vanderbilt will have to catch-and-shoot here. Howell's going to throw the long ball. Lashley tips it away...and there's the horn!

*silence and crowd noise*

CHRIS: Your final score: Lafayette 66, Vanderbilt 64...your Lafayette Leopards are the NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

Code:

Lafayette 66, Vanderbilt 64

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lafayette  (35-3, 13-1):
Player            Pos Min Fgm-a Ftm-a Off Reb Ast PF Pts
Kurt Ritchie      PF   34   0-4   0-2   0   5   1  2   0
Jeffrey Hampton   PF   16   2-3   0-0   0   1   0  4   4
Carl McGriff      SF   26   4-5   0-0   3   5   1  2   8
Kenton Lashley    SG   29   5-9   0-0   0   2   1  1  15
Kamari Stone      PG   30   3-4   2-4   1   6   5  2  11
Micah Rodriguez   SF   15   1-5   4-4   1   2   1  4   7
Charles Allen     SG   13   3-5   2-2   0   0   1  5  10
Carter Todd       C    23   2-4   0-2   0   3   1  3   4
Bret Bryant       PF    9   2-3   0-0   2   5   1  3   5
Duncan Sims       PG    3   0-0   2-2   0   1   0  0   2
David Farrell     C     1   0-0   0-0   0   0   0  1   0

Turnovers: 13 (K.Ritchie 1, J.Hampton 1, C.McGriff 1, 
 K.Lashley 3, K.Stone 3, M.Rodriguez 2, C.Allen 2)
Blocked Shots: 3 (K.Ritchie 3)
Steals: 2 (C.McGriff 1, K.Stone 1)
3P FGs: 12-21 (K.Ritchie 0-2, K.Lashley 5-7, K.Stone 
 3-4, M.Rodriguez 1-3, C.Allen 2-4, B.Bryant 1-1)

Vanderbilt  (33-4, 15-1):
Player            Pos Min Fgm-a Ftm-a Off Reb Ast PF Pts
Kenton Howell     C    37   1-2   2-3   5  10   0  1   4
J. Beaumont       PF   30  4-10  9-14   3   8   2  3  17
Jamison To        SF   29   1-8   1-2   1   3   6  0   3
Tony Wyss         SG   31   1-7   3-4   0   0   2  1   6
Issac Dumont      PG   22   4-7   1-1   1   3   0  2  11
Garrett Murray    PG   20   2-4   3-4   0   0   1  2   8
Robert Mackenzie  SG   14   0-5   3-4   1   2   1  1   3
Scott Salazar     SF    5   1-2   0-0   1   1   1  0   3
Joseph Duarte     C    11   4-5   1-1   3   4   0  1   9
Vincent Saari     PF    2   0-0   0-0   0   0   0  1   0

Turnovers: 8 (J.Beaumont 2, T.Wyss 2, I.Dumont 2, 
 G.Murray 2)
Blocked Shots: 3 (K.Howell 1, J.Beaumont 1, T.Wyss 1)
Steals: 4 (K.Howell 1, J.To 1, T.Wyss 1, G.Murray 1)
3P FGs: 5-19 (K.Howell 0-1, J.To 0-3, T.Wyss 1-3, 
 I.Dumont 2-5, G.Murray 1-3, R.Mackenzie 0-3, S.Salazar 
 1-1)

Player of Game: PG Kamari Stone (LFYTE)

11-03-2023, 07:07 PM	#350
MoonlightGraham High School Varsity Join Date: Sep 2022	March 7, 2025 The NCAA Championship Game San Antonio, Texas: The Alamodome Let's join Lafayette radio broadcasters Chris Willingham and DeWitt Leiva, Lafayette '11, as they bring us the highlights from tonight's championship game. CHRIS: This is Vanderbilt's third consecutive trip to the national final. [Head coach] Steven Rubalcaba has plenty of experience on this stage. And, don't forget, these two teams have met in the Final Four once before...and the Commodores beat the Leopards on the way to the 2019 national championship. DeWITT: I talked with Coach Sims before the game, and he says the team is ready. I noticed that, too...there's a quiet confidence about them. They're used to winning. I think Kenton Lashley's presence is an intangible factor that will help this team. Kenton has a ring [2024, North Carolina]. They've seen it. Kenton knows what it takes to finish the job. CHRIS: That's right, DeWitt. Let's see if they can do it. The ball's in the air...Kenton Howell wins the tip for the Commodores, and the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball championship game is underway... CHRIS: Under 30 seconds to go now, first half, as Kamari [Stone] brings it into the frontcourt for the Leopards. The lead's changed hands several times in this first half, and Vandy's on top now, 32-28. DeWITT: They'll be playing for one shot now, I think. They really don't want Vanderbilt to get the ball with a chance to score again. CHRIS: Stone has it, right side. He finds Ritchie down low...Howell closes on him and Kurt kicks it back out. Eight seconds left now. Stone swings it to Lashley in the left corner...K-Lash lets it go...It's GOOD! DeWITT: What a great first half. This is what this game should be like. It's the NCAA final. CHRIS: Vandy has one second. [Jamison] To is just going to chuck it from the backcourt...not even close. At halftime, your score is Vanderbilt 32, Lafayette 31. This is the Lafayette Athletics radio network... CHRIS: Just over fourteen minutes to play now. Lafayette's up six. [Tony] Wyss has it on the left side. Lashley's playing him tight. To [Garrett] Murray in the corner. He's trapped there... DeWITT: He stepped on the baseline... CHRIS: He's out of bounds. That's some outstanding defense from Lashley and Stone there. CHRIS: Stone brings it up for the Leopards. To McGriff, left corner. Back to Stone. Kamari, for three...count it! It's 47-38; the biggest lead of the game for Lafayette! DeWITT: Look at their body language, Chris. They're believing in themselves now. The neutral fans want them to win this thing... CHRIS: Twelve minutes left now. [Charles] Allen has it...Vandy pressing full court. To Lashley, left wing... DeWITT: Pull it!... CHRIS: It's good! Lafayette up TWELVE now, 53-41! DeWITT: Lashley's playing with some swagger. He was wagging his finger in that dude's face. He's gotta be careful... CHRIS: We're at the Alamodome in San Antonio. There are six and a half minutes to play in the national championship game. Lafayette up eleven, 60-49. [Isaac] Dumont dribbles out to the left wing. Back to To, top of the key. Into the corner to [Jefferson] Beaumont. He'll drive and score and there's a whistle... DeWITT: [Bret] Bryant got him. That's a strong move by Beaumont to score through contact. CHRIS: Beaumont at the line. He's a 67 percent free throw shooter. It's good. Vanderbilt's cut the lead back to single digits now... CHRIS: The clock is Lafayette's friend right now; they're maintaining that eight-point lead. It's 62-54, three-and-a-half minutes left to play. [Robert] Mackenzie has it. To Howell in the high post. Back out to Mackenzie, and there's a whistle. DeWITT: That's a tough call. I thought Charles was playing good defense there. CHRIS: Charles thinks so, too. He's arguing the call vehemently... DeWITT: Kurt has hold of him, trying to lead him away before he gets T'ed up. CHRIS: Too late. Allen is hit with a technical foul, and that's his fifth personal. Charles Allen has fouled out, and perhaps even more importantly, Vanderbilt's about to shoot four free throws... CHRIS: Tony Wyss makes both shots. 62-56 Lafayette now, and Mackenzie will shoot now; he's the player Allen fouled. The first one bounces in and out. Second shot; it's good. The Leopards' lead is down to five, with just over three minutes to play! DeWITT: This one's far from over, Chris. This Vanderbilt team has been here before... CHRIS: We have a finish befitting a championship game. Vanderbilt trailed by 11 points five minutes ago. Now, with 1:50 left, it's all tied up at 62. DeWITT: Vanderbilt's on a 13-2 run. Come on, guys. We need a big stop here!... CHRIS: Under a minute left, still tied at 62. Micah to Lashley in the right corner. He'll dribble back out. Jamison To guarding him. He'll swing it to [Jeffrey] Hampton, left side. Back out to Rodriguez. Shot clock running down... DeWITT: We gotta hurry... CHRIS: To Hampton; he takes it up and scores! Lafayette 64, Vanderbilt 62, 52 seconds left!... CHRIS: Beaumont has it. To Howell, on the baseline...he scores and there's a whistle! Kurt Ritchie got a piece of him going up, but Howell powered through the contact and scored. DeWITT: That's a tough break for Kurt and a good play by Howell. Howell hasn't touched the ball a lot today... CHRIS: That's only Howell's second basket of the night, but it's a HUGE one. The score is tied at 64, and there are 19 seconds on the clock. Howell will shoot the "and one." DeWITT: Oh, no. Stone's limping. He has to come out of there. CHRIS: Duncan Sims is checking in. He's a shooter and I'm sure Coach Rubalcaba knows it. Here's the free throw...it's no good! The rebound comes out to Sims... DeWITT: Here we go...this is it! CHRIS: Sims into the front court. Hands it to Rodriguez. Micah to McGriff, back to Micah...he drives the baseline...shot goes up...it's no good, but there's a whistle... DeWITT: Oh my... CHRIS: The shot didn't go in, but they've called a foul! I think it's on Tony Wyss. There are 1.3 seconds on the clock, and Micah Rodriguez will shoot two free throws! It's 64-64. DeWITT: They've done such a good job on Micah tonight. He's found good shots hard to come by. CHRIS: Kenton Lashley spoke to Micah while they're lining up. So did Kurt Ritchie. Micah steps to the line. He's a 77 percent free throw shooter for the year. First one's up. It's good! The second...IT IS GOOD! DeWITT: exhales audibly He did it! That's HUGE... laughs loudly CHRIS: Vanderbilt will have to catch-and-shoot here. Howell's going to throw the long ball. Lashley tips it away...and there's the horn! silence and crowd noise CHRIS: Your final score: Lafayette 66, Vanderbilt 64...your Lafayette Leopards are the NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! Code: Lafayette 66, Vanderbilt 64 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lafayette (35-3, 13-1): Player Pos Min Fgm-a Ftm-a Off Reb Ast PF Pts Kurt Ritchie PF 34 0-4 0-2 0 5 1 2 0 Jeffrey Hampton PF 16 2-3 0-0 0 1 0 4 4 Carl McGriff SF 26 4-5 0-0 3 5 1 2 8 Kenton Lashley SG 29 5-9 0-0 0 2 1 1 15 Kamari Stone PG 30 3-4 2-4 1 6 5 2 11 Micah Rodriguez SF 15 1-5 4-4 1 2 1 4 7 Charles Allen SG 13 3-5 2-2 0 0 1 5 10 Carter Todd C 23 2-4 0-2 0 3 1 3 4 Bret Bryant PF 9 2-3 0-0 2 5 1 3 5 Duncan Sims PG 3 0-0 2-2 0 1 0 0 2 David Farrell C 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 Turnovers: 13 (K.Ritchie 1, J.Hampton 1, C.McGriff 1, K.Lashley 3, K.Stone 3, M.Rodriguez 2, C.Allen 2) Blocked Shots: 3 (K.Ritchie 3) Steals: 2 (C.McGriff 1, K.Stone 1) 3P FGs: 12-21 (K.Ritchie 0-2, K.Lashley 5-7, K.Stone 3-4, M.Rodriguez 1-3, C.Allen 2-4, B.Bryant 1-1) Vanderbilt (33-4, 15-1): Player Pos Min Fgm-a Ftm-a Off Reb Ast PF Pts Kenton Howell C 37 1-2 2-3 5 10 0 1 4 J. Beaumont PF 30 4-10 9-14 3 8 2 3 17 Jamison To SF 29 1-8 1-2 1 3 6 0 3 Tony Wyss SG 31 1-7 3-4 0 0 2 1 6 Issac Dumont PG 22 4-7 1-1 1 3 0 2 11 Garrett Murray PG 20 2-4 3-4 0 0 1 2 8 Robert Mackenzie SG 14 0-5 3-4 1 2 1 1 3 Scott Salazar SF 5 1-2 0-0 1 1 1 0 3 Joseph Duarte C 11 4-5 1-1 3 4 0 1 9 Vincent Saari PF 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 Turnovers: 8 (J.Beaumont 2, T.Wyss 2, I.Dumont 2, G.Murray 2) Blocked Shots: 3 (K.Howell 1, J.Beaumont 1, T.Wyss 1) Steals: 4 (K.Howell 1, J.To 1, T.Wyss 1, G.Murray 1) 3P FGs: 5-19 (K.Howell 0-1, J.To 0-3, T.Wyss 1-3, I.Dumont 2-5, G.Murray 1-3, R.Mackenzie 0-3, S.Salazar 1-1) Player of Game: PG Kamari Stone (LFYTE)