In an ending even Hollywood might think too far fetched,
Griffin Linstra of
Manasquan (N.J.) hit the game-winner over
Camden (N.J.) to lift the Warriors to a 44-43 win Wednesday and into the New Jersey Group 2 finals.
Linstra was the same player last year who hit what looked to be a buzzer-beating game-winner over Camden in the semifinals only to have the bucket waved off by officials after a lengthy conversation in the video seen above.
The controversy made national headlines as Manasquan pursued appeals and even legal action before the state association ruled the Camden victory to stand.
For the second straight season Manasquan's Griffin Linstra hit a game-winner over Camden in the New Jersey postseason. Last year, amid controversy, his buzzer-beater was disallowed and Camden won. On Tuesday, he his shot with 1.2 seconds left gave the Warriors a 44-43 victory as they advanced to the Group 2 finals on Sunday. (FILE PHOTO: Nicole Saracen)
In a show of sportsmanship, Manasquan players showed up days later to watch and root on Camden as they won the Group 2 title.
On Tuesday, the Warriors trailed Camden 43-42 with the ball and 6.1 seconds left.
Linstra caught the inbounds pass near the top of the arc, took two dribbles down the right side of the key and banked in the go-ahead bucket while getting fouled. He missed the free throw before Camden grabbed the rebound and let go of a half-court shot that missed left.
The 6-foot-5 senior guard finished with eight points and six rebounds in the win while sophomores
Logan Cleveland and
Rey Weinseimer chipped in a team-high 14 points apiece.
Linstra has piled up over 1,300 points and nearly 1,000 rebounds in his four-year career while leading the Warriors to a record of 100-21 during that span.
Manasquan (24-4) plays the winner of
Madison (N.J.) and
Glen Rock (N.J.) on Sunday at Rutgers.
