Jan 26, 2005 By Jim Downey 5 min read

CARMICHAELS – The Weather Girls had a disco-era hit with “It’s Raining Men.” Well, the Carmichaels boys basketball team might want to consider a new millennium version of the dance classic with “It’s Raining Threes” after the duo of Tyrone Pinson and Jeff Lapkowicz poured in 11 3-pointers Tuesday night in Carmichaels’ thrilling 60-58 Section 2-A victory over visiting Geibel Catholic.

The game had many layers, including Geibel head coach Ken Misiak’s bid for his 700th career win. That was delayed for a game, but another facet was the fight for the section title. Carmichaels now holds a ½-game lead over the Gators with the Mikes, 15-4 overall, atop the standings at 9-1. Geibel slips to 8-1 with an overall mark of 14-3.

Carmichaels finishes the section slate with a road game at Mapletown on Friday and a home game next Friday with West Greene.

Geibel looks to maintain pace with the Mikes and give its longtime coach his milestone win on Friday against West Greene. Remaining section games include next Tuesday’s at Jefferson-Morgan and a home game against California on Friday, Jan. 4.

It looked like the Gators were poised to hand Misiak his 700th win early, racing out to an 11-0 start in the first three minutes of the game on a pair of 3-pointers and a field goal by Rob Ramsey to go with Mitchell Erdely’s old-style 3-point play.

Carmichaels coach Don Williams didn’t panic, calling a timeout. The Mikes benefited from the talk, responding with a 42-22 run in the final 13 minutes of the first half on the eagle-eyed shooting of Pinson and Jeff Lapkowicz.

The Mikes closed the first quarter with a 14-3 run with Pinson hitting one three and Lapkowicz two. Pinson stepped up in the second quarter, totally zoning out with five 3-pointers and a field goal for 17 points. Jeff Lapkowicz added another 3-pointer to go with a pair field goals.

“When Geibel had the 11-0 lead, we didn’t quit. That was the key,” explained Williams, who ran his win total to 345. “We run a very disciplined offense. The kids run it well.”

Misiak agreed, saying, “Give them a lot of credit. The Lapkowicz twins really control the game and they can shoot. (Don Williams) always has his kids prepared.

“We took the early lead and got too comfortable. Pinson hit those five 3-pointers. That buried us.”

Foul trouble slowed down Pinson in the second half, scoring six points on a 3-point goal and a traditional 3-point play in the third quarter. He was scoreless in the fourth quarter, fouling out with 23 seconds left in the game to finish with a game-high 29 points.

Williams turned to a box-and-one defense on Ramsey, the California University of Pa. recruit, confusing Geibel on the offensive end. The Gators stopped the bleeding somewhat, closing the game to 45-39 on Joe Fagan’s field goal with about five minutes to go. But, the Mikes responded once again with a closing run of 10-4 for a 55-43 lead after three quarters.

Misiak came out in a 1-2-2 full-court press in the fourth quarter, causing the Mikes to get out of step on the offensive end of the floor. Carmichaels scored only five points in the final eight minutes.

“We were out of sync. Fortunately, we moved the ball. We wanted to score. We wanted a high percentage shot,” said Williams.

Carmichaels built its lead to 13 points on Jeff Lapkowicz’s fourth 3-pointer after Geibel Catholic’s Mario Fragello opened the quarter with a field goal. Geibel slowly chipped at the lead, slicing a point here, two points there until a pair of Kellen Holmes’ free throws – he finished with 12 points – made it 58-56 at 2:33 to go.

Jeff Lapkowicz made both ends of a 1-and-1 with 55 seconds to go for his 17th and 18th points, but Mitchell Erdely came right back for the Gators with a putback with 14 seconds remaining.

Jared Lapkowicz was fouled with nine seconds to go, the only Carmichaels player on the lane. Somehow he managed to track down his miss, killing three valuable seconds, and drawing a foul. However, he missed both free throws to give Geibel one last chance.

“When he missed the free throw and got it back really hurt us,” said Misiak.

It wasn’t the play drawn up by Misiak, but Mario Fragello’s last second shot bounced off the rim.

Geibel wasn’t afraid of the long shot either, hitting seven. Fragello had three in his 13 points, as did Ramsey in his team-high 16 points.

Misiak has lost his fair share of games as well, but it doesn’t get any easier.

“It’s just like the first game,” Misiak said of his approach. “It doesn’t change. The losses still hurt.

“The kids know what they have to do. They have to put four quarters together, not just three.”

Williams has had his fair share of battles with the Gators over the past three decades.

“The kids needed to be in a good game, to get ready to compete in the playoffs. There’s always extra motivation when we play Geibel, especially when the championship is on the line. I’m glad (Ken Misiak) is getting (his 700th win) somewhere down the road, not at Carmichaels.”