Tomlin rises to occasion as Penncrest tips Chester

CHESTER — The options for Penncrest on the final possession of a one-score game have become streamlined in recent weeks. It’s one of the few benefits of three starters sitting out injured.

The plan, down two points with 30 seconds to play Sunday against Chester, wasn’t to have Isiah Rice dribble into a crowd and lose the ball. Nor was it to have leading scorer Malcolm Williams standing flat-footed 38 feet from the basket, more ready to foul if a Clipper emerged with the ball than to shoot if a Lion recovered it.

But like so much else in the Lions’ holiday break, when things haven’t gone to plan, they’ve found a way.

Marquis Tomlin buried a long 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds to play, sending Penncrest to a 47-46 win over Chester in the Pete and Jameer Nelson Classic at Widener University.

After falling to the court under pressure from Chester guard Rahmee Gilbert, Rice had the presence of mind to shovel the ball to Tomlin, standing two strides behind the arc. Tomlin’s triple splashed home, giving him a career-high 16 points and about as easy of a decision for game MVP honors as the three-day showcase has had.

“When (Rice) dove on the floor, I was going to call timeout,” Tomlin said. “But when passed me the ball, I had an open lane so I shot it. I just hoped for the best, and I made it.”

With Matt Arbogast (back) and Dylan Bittle (wrist) recently joining Gee Antonelli (foot) on the injured list, Penncrest’s players knew someone would have to step up to fill the void. And Tomlin was one of many volunteers Sunday.

Rice ran the point adeptly with six points. Aidan Carroll hit two triples, plus he knocked down three free throws in the final minute after being fouled behind the arc, tallying 11 points. Denzel Boyer grabbed nine rebounds.

All of that eased the pressure on Williams, the Lions’ leading scorer who provided 12 points within the flow of a team that was coming off a 54-28 humbling at the hands of West Chester East two days prior.

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Penncrest guard Marquis Tomlin poses with the game MVP trophy after leading the Lions to a 47-46 win over Chester at the Pete and Jameer Nelson Classic Sunday. Tomlin scored 16 points, including the decisive 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds left.