by Zettler Clay IV

New York City is no stranger to hair-raising, eye-popping basketball. But every once in a while, something bizarre happens that surpasses the expectations of the most seasoned hardwood viewer.

In the Section 1 Class AA final, ninth-seeded New Rochelle squared off against third-seeded Mount Vernon (home of Denzel Washington). With 2.9 seconds left on clock and trailing, New Rochelle inbounded the ball from opposite end of court. Trying to get the ball closer to his own basket, Khalil Edney launched. His passed was intercepted. In a scene we’ve seen many times, the Mount Vernon player threw the ball in the air with hopes that time would elapse before the ball hit the ground.

But he didn’t throw it high enough and Edney – same guy who inbounded ball – grabbed ball from mid-air and…well, see for yourself:



This shot capped a 12-1 run by the winning team. In further bit of irony, New Rochelle is the alma mater of Super Bowl-winning Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, who starred as the point guard in his prep days:

CITY OF CHAMPIONS NEW RO STAND UP WE RULE WESTCHESTER #914—
Ray Rice (@RayRice27) March 03, 2013

If only Mt. Vernon had thrown the ball higher.