Pirates’ DiLeo is bloodied but unbowed

Special seniors leave everything on the floor in their final game.

But that's usually just a figure of speech.

Max DiLeo made it literal.

The Cinnaminson guard played with an indomitable spirit in his last game in a Pirates uniform. He scored 14 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter in a desperate and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to rally his team to a South Jersey Group 2 tournament victory over Haddonfield.

But when Haddonfield's Paul Wiedeman said that DiLeo left his "blood, sweat, and tears" on the court, the veteran coach wasn't being symbolic.

Well, maybe about the tears.

DiLeo left lots of sweat and blood on the court of the Pirates' tiny gymnasium. He crashed into a metal rail in the stands trying to make a steal midway through the first quarter, and the nasty collision cost him his uniform jersey, some of his recollection of the game, and a significant amount of blood.

"It was hurting pretty bad during timeouts and when play was stopped," DiLeo said after Haddonfield's 62-57 victory. "When I was playing, I didn't feel it at all. I just wanted to put everything out there because I didn't want this to be my last game."

DiLeo said he was on his way after the game to get stitches in the cut over his right eye. He also said that he didn't remember parts of the game.

DiLeo banged his head against that rail two rows into the packed stands with 3 minutes, 24 seconds remaining in the first quarter. He staggered a bit on his way to the trainer's room, and the game was delayed for several minutes as officials cleaned blood off the floor.

DiLeo returned with a new uniform jersey - No. 22 instead of No. 23 - and a Band-Aid over his eye. He left the game twice in the third quarter because of bleeding, and played the fourth with white trainer's tape wrapped around his head to hold the bandage in place.

"He looked like a mummy out there, but he kept making shot after shot," Wiedeman said.

Haddonfield was in front, 46-32, after three quarters. But DiLeo led Cinnaminson back into contention in the final minutes.

He had 14 points, four rebounds, and an assist in the fourth quarter. He grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a reverse layup to cut the margin to 48-40. He hit a jumper off the move to make it 48-42. He hit another jumper off the move to make it 54-50, scored on another putback to make it 57-55, and converted a drive to make it 59-57 with 0:19 on the clock.

He was all over the court, teaming with fellow seniors Napolean Blamon and Iwakayode Oluwayose to rally the Pirates to the brink of a remarkable comeback victory.

"I didn't want to let it happen," DiLeo said of the end of his career. "We did all we could."

Haddonfield senior Wyatt Polk, who led his team with 24 points, was struck by DiLeo's determined play.

"I tip my hat to him," Polk said. "He's a senior who knew he might be playing his last game. That's the way he played."

DiLeo said he doesn't remember parts of his final game.

Everybody who was there will never forget it.