Garner feels wanted

Garner is a 6-6, 220-pound senior forward at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy and his next stop will be the University of Maryland Baltimore County, commonly known as UMBC. The coach there is Randy Monroe, a product of Roman Catholic High (class of 1981), and his sales pitch made Garner feel like a million bucks (even in this sucky economy).

"Coming out of the summer, I had a lot of interest from high-majors to mid-majors to low-majors," Garner said. "It was pouring in. I wasn't concerned so much with the level as I was with how important I'd be to the school I picked."

"When we were having our off-season workouts, (Monroe) was coming to three out of five every week. Driving all the way up here. Some of the coaches would talk to me for maybe 15 minutes after the workouts. He'd spend an hour with me. And one time he brought his whole staff up here."

"He made me feel like I'd be a featured player there. The kind of guy who makes all-conference. That meant a lot to me. Plus, on my visit, I loved the campus and the area."

Overall, considering only 54 total points were scored, there's no way Garner could say he loved last night's Inter-Ac League game with visiting Episcopal Academy.

In fact, if this tilt had been played on a Tuesday afternoon in front of far fewer spectators, the most impressive stat would have the number of people who fell asleep. However, SCH was supported by a large (maybe 150 kids?) and vocal student section and, what the heck, the game did feature intensity and it wasn't decided until the waning moments.

SCH won, 30-24, as Garner contributed 14 points, eight rebounds and one vital assist.

That came with 30 seconds remaining and double the Blue Devils' lead to 28-24. After Episcopal committed its fourth, fifth and sixth team fouls at 0:53, 0:51 and 0:49, SCH spread the floor and waited for one of two things: an easy bucket or a trip to the line for a one-and-one.

Soon, there was Garner beyond the arc on the left wing. And there was junior guard Bobby Keyes, dashing toward the hoop by his lonesome. The pass was perfect. So was the layup.

Following a missed jumper by the Churchmen, Pat Costello added two free throws.

"I saw that they were jumping out on us, bringing two-three guys to the ball," Garner said. "I kept looking to the other side of the court for someone who'd be open. I saw Bob running to the rim and I just let it go and he was there."

This has not been a pleasant season for the Blue Devils. Luke Mulvaney, who was making an excellent transition to point guard, was lost to a major knee injury after two games. Combo guard Billy Dooley, an American University signee and son of coach Bill Dooley, suffered a mild concussion. Another guard, Andrew Dowds, has been out due to illness.

"We had high hopes coming into the season," Garner said. "We didn't lower our expectations after Luke got hurt, but . . . it was hard to play with the same energy and fire. We've lost a ton of close games. We had to learn how to do this. Tonight will help."

A statfest, this wasn't. Keyes did manage 10 points (two treys), seven rebounds and three steals. Dooley, Mike Hayes and Costello had two points apiece. Brian Metzler (eight, two treys) and Matt Angelos (six, thanks to two threes) led EA in scoring, Adam Strouss claimed six boards and Mike Jolaoso dished three assists.

For college, Garner, who lives on the 1200 block of Stirling Street, not far from Castor and Levick, is working on his handle and mid-range shooting, in addition to his guard-all-over-the-floor skills. He's nowhere close to pinning down a possible major.

Meanwhile, bloodlines are part of his story. His dad, Urian, played for Thomas Edison and his uncle, Dana "Dano" Garner, now a prominent ref, was the only junior starter for Jules Mastbaum Tech's 1982 Public League champions.

Pub games, of course, sometimes feature 54 points in the first quarter. Here's hoping the prominent players find colleges that make them feel as treasured as Malik Garner's does.