Saints Peter & Paul's Gaines Shannahan (32) and Tyler Horney (21) battle Key School's Theodore Anthony during first half of Sunday's MIAA C Conference championship game at the Towson Center. The Obezags defeated the Sabres, 51-42.
Five years ago Key School made a leap to the competitive athletic world of the MIAA and during its first winter in the conference, the Obezags' varsity and JV basketball teams posted a combined record of 0-41. There was no where to go but up and that's exactly where the school with the Association's most uniqe nickname headed.
Light at the end of tunnel was visible last year, as Key made the MIAA C Confernce playoffs for the first time, and now the spot light is white hot on the Obezags, following their impressive 51-42 victory over Saints Peter & Paul in Sunday's C Conference title game at the Towson Center. This the first MIAA varsity title, in any sport, for Key.
Saints Peter & Paul, which had a record breaking season itself, started the day with three quick scores and grabbed an early 6-0 lead. The second-seeded Obezags, however, scored the next nine points, on their way to a 16-3 run, and never relinquish control.
Key senior guard Fahmy El Said, who led all scorers with 18 points, hit two big three's in the first quarter as coach Darryl Scott's club surged. Said added another trey in the third quarter and was 7-for-8 from the free throw line on the day, including 3-for-4 in the final period.
The Obezags hit 75% of their free throws in the fourth quarter, icing the win. Senior Steven Sligh, who had 12 on the day, was a perfect 8-for-8 from the line.
The Sabres (15-6), who shot only 28% from the field, struggled at the charity stripe. They hit only 8-of-17 from the line in the second half.
Junior forward Micah Steinmiller led the Sabres with 15 points, nine coming in the fourth quarter as he helped coach George Small's club claw within five ponts, at 46-41.
"We worked hard all day, but Key (13-11) played exteremely well today. I give then a lot of credit," said Steinmiller. "We just couldn't get anything to drop."
An emotional Scott said, "Everyone contributed. It's a great honor to be part of the school's first [MIAA] championship."
"We overcame a lot of injuries during the year, but we kept working hard as a group," added Sligh. "We relied on one another, and winning a championship is kind of unbelievable."
Key 51, Saints Peter & Paul 42
KEY 12 13 12 14 - 51
SPP 8 12 9 13 - 42
Key: El said 18, Maldonado 3, Wechsler 6, Anthony 4, Sligh 12, Flanigan 9.
Saints Peter & Paul: Kaestner 9, Mlynarski 11, Horney 2, Shanahan 5, Steinmiller 15.
Half: Key, 25-20.