0:27
Wakefield senior forward Jon Ford pulls down a missed Stuart free throw, goes the length of the court and hits the game-winning jumper with :01.9 seconds left.
More VideosView All

By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area

** Click the links above for photos and complete video highlights from Friday's game!

While economists predict General Motors will suffer a daunting fourth quarter, Ford appears to be handling it just fine.

Warrior senior forward Jon Ford scored 11 of his game-high 32 points in the final period Friday at Stuart, including the game-winning jumper with :01.9 seconds left to lift Wakefield to a dramatic, come-from-behind, 68-67 victory.

"Coach had been telling me all game that I need to shoot more," said Ford, who scored 20 of the Warriors' 46 second-half points. "I like to pass it to my teammates and get everybody involved, but he told me when I came out in the fourth quarter, 'It's not time to pass the ball. It's time to get it in the bucket.'

"As soon as [Stuart] got on the free-throw line, coach told me to get the ball, clear it out and do my thing. Once they missed, I just got to a spot where I was comfortable shooting and I just knew it was up."

Added seventh-year Wakefield Coach Tony Bentley: "We have a play where we just spread it out. If you can guard [Ford], then great job. If you can't, he's going to get the hole on you and take it all the way or pull up for a shot.

"And the iron was kind tonight."

Ford joins a list of Warriors whose history of buzzer-beating baskets keep the forest-green fan base believing into the final seconds.

Guard Nathaniel Idlet hit a baseline fade-a-way as time expired in the Northern Region championship to beat Hayfield in 2005.

Two years later, George Johnson banked home a half-court, in-bound pass as the horn sounded in the region semifinal to eliminate West Springfield.

Then, just one week ago, Wakefield senior guard Romeo Goffney hit a last-second shot to force overtime against Lee. The Warriors ultimately won that game, too, 95-86.

"Whenever my team needs a big play, I hope they have the courage in me that I had," said Ford, whose team trailed by 12 points with 3:45 remaining. "And whenever the shot's needed, I'm going to put it up in the goal."

Joining Ford with second-half heroics on Friday was a spark plug in Goffney.

The 5-foot, 8-inch point guard recorded four of his five steals -- and all 11 of his points -- after half time.

"I always have a second gear," Goffney said. "The second half is always my best because I never give up. We had a hard game against Lee like this and we pulled that one out, too."

Pleas for fans to stay off the court after the final buzzer were futile. The saturated stands spilled onto the floor to congratulate the elated Warriors (6-1 overall, 1-0 National District) and console the downtrodden Raiders (6-1, 1-1).

Fans made their way to the parking lot -- or adjacent Peace Valley Lane if they arrived to the game after all spaces were filled -- carrying signs, painted banners and pom-pons.

It was atmosphere uncharacteristic of the Stuart of the last dozen seasons, but appears the norm since the program's resurgence began last year.

"When was the last time you saw a packed house at Stuart?" asked Bentley, who competed for Washington-Lee against the last Raider regional championship team in 1996. "Give credit to [Director of Student Activities] E.W. Noland, [Stuart Coach] Tony Harris and all the guys that brought basketball back to Stuart.

"I talked to some of the former players, from back in the '90s and the '80s, guys who were here tonight that I'm friends with. They said the same thing: Give them credit for bringing this in tonight.

"It was awesome."

Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com


Wakefield       12  10  20  26  --  68
Stuart            16  11  16  24  --  67

Wakefield -- Ford 10 11-16 32; Goffney 4 2-4 11; B. Harris 3 0-0 6; Levenberry 3 0-0 6; Aldrich 2 0-0 5; Getu 2 0-0 4; Denny 1 0-0 2; Taylor 1 0-0 2. Team totals: 26 13-20 68. Stuart -- A. Harris 5 5-7 20; Ibrahim 7 1-2 15; Watson 5 3-7 13; Ford 2 6-8 11; Zaman 2 1-4 7; Kaissouni 0 1-2 1. Team totals: 21 17-30 67. Three pointers -- Wakefield 3 (Aldrich, Ford, Goffney); Stuart 8 (Harris 5, Zaman 2, Ford).