COLLEGE PARK — Exactly one year ago, in the very same game, Torrey Brittingham found himself in a situation that he would soon come across once again. At the time, he didn’t know if he would get to experience that same opportunity over again in his high school career — to compete for a basketball state championship.
“Torrey (Brittingham) has been here before,” Stephen Decatur head coach Bryon Johnson said, referring to Brittingham’s run he made with Wicomico a season ago before transferring to Decatur. “When Torrey (Brittingham) walked in the doors of this program, you could tell he wanted a state championship.”
So, when Brittingham was blown off the court by Patterson in the 2A semifinals, losing by 28 points, it left him a sharp vision and added starvation to his unfinished business.
Fast forward one year later, when his Seahawks were getting trounced, down 10 midway through the third quarter, he shut his eyes and replayed the dreamy script over in his head he had rehearsed countless of times before.
Everything after that was history. Brittingham resurrected hope to lead No. 4 Stephen Decatur on a comeback for the ages over No. 6 Seneca Valley, 66-61.
“We’ve been working so hard in the off-season for this,” Brittingham, the Wicomico tranfer said, who finished with 33 points on 11-for-17 shooting from the floor. “From March to November, we’re in the gym. It doesn’t stop.”
Decatur, who is known for their hallmark athleticism and overwhelming ability to put points up in a hurry, never shied away from what has fueled their deep postseason run.
“We don’t worry too much about what the other team is going to do,” Johnson said. “If we do what we need to do, we’ll be in good shape.”
Trailing by 10 with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter, and with Seneca Valley using a 1-3-1 zone to distort many Decatur offensive possessions, Keve Aluma (nine points, eight rebounds and four blocks), Brittingham and Ja’Quan Johnson (nine points) would get back to work in the transition game.
A Brittingham duece, back-to-back layups from Johnson and a thunderous dunk from Aluma to conclude the third quarter put Decatur on an 8-1 run entering the fourth quarter. And though down 48-45 going into the final eight minutes, they could sense momentum was on their side.
“That dunk was definitely huge,” Aluma said. “I just needed to finish strong and it happened to end in a dunk.”
Seneca Valley would cling to a slim margin for the majority of the fourth quarter. With 2:14 left, Aluma converted another pivotal bucket to tie the game at 57-57 and then with 31.7 remaining, Brittingham got fouled while taking a shot from behind the arc.
He would sink all three of his free throws to give Decatur a lead they would not lose, 62-61. Seneca Valley would get two more chances — one to take the lead, which clanked off the rim, and the other to potentially send it to overtime, but ended in a turnover.
Brittingham free throws and a Kevon Voyles layup would punch Decatur’s ticket to the 3A state championship on Saturday afternoon against No. 7 C.M. Wright.
“Our kids just don’t quit,” Johnson said. “They live in the gym and prepare for these moments. One more game though, one more game.”
Seneca Valley, meanwhile, loses a game that will scar the program for many years to come. The Screamin’ Eagles led for all but the last 31.7 seconds of the final 16 minutes and had their fair share of opportunities to send them into the finals. On top of the sorrow, they missed 41 of their 61 shot attempts, only shooting 32.8 percent.
As their season comes to a close, Brian Humphrey knows there are bigger things to life than just a basketball game.
“To win 12 straight games and come that close to playing for a state championship, it’s special,” Humphrey, the head coach said. “But the most important thing is, when my father passed at the end of January, my kids were there for me every step of the way. That to me, is something special.”
Triston Price finished with 18 points while swiping five steals and Quentin Twyman added 14 points and five assists both for Seneca Valley.
Stephen Decatur shot 54.3 percent from the field.
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