Spartans Cash In On Late Bank

Jeff Bambule watched one opportunity after another go squandered Friday.

Point-blank shots in the paint clanking off the rim. Misfired free throws dancing off the cylinder. Empty possessions that ended in turnovers or poor shot selection.

And yet, it was all erased in one series of events that lasted all of about nine seconds.

After watching the Spartans shoot 5-of-11 from the charity stripe in the second half, it was only fitting that a missed free throw off the fingertips of Oswego's Elliot McGaughy opened the door for some late-game Romeoville heroics.

Junior Devin Purnell buried a game-winning 3-point field goal with 2.3 seconds left, banking home a bucket from the top of the key to give Romeoville a one-point lead and eventually the win.

"We've just got to try to make up for those. We're not a good free throw shooting team, but we're getting better," Bambule said.

One of the more costly misses was the back-end of a pair from Dejounte' Lincoln, who turned the gaffe into a gift by hustling into the paint and putting back the missed shot to cut Romeoville's deficit to one.

The Spartans trailed by as many as eight points in the second half and likely could have faced a steeper climb on the comeback trail had Oswego shot better than 5-for-11 on its second half attempts from the free-throw line.

"That was fortunate on our part," Bambule said. "Oswego is a really good club and the last time they played us, they pounded us. But from the second half of tha game until now, we've been playing pretty good basketball. Hopefully we can keep it up."