He was simply … Ramar-velous.
Loyola Academy senior Ramar Evans came up a phenomenal finish in his team’s riveting come-from-behind 60-59 overtime win over visiting Westchester St. Joseph on Jan. 13. Evans and the Ramblers rallied from a 13-point deficit, trailing 48-35 with 4:47 left in regulation.
Evans poured in a career-high 27 points to give the Ramblers (11-5, 4-1) their sixth straight victory — and their first overtime win of the season. The team is now 1-3 in extra-session games.
Evans, who will play Division II basketball at Maryville University in St. Louis next season, was Mr. Clutch at the end of the fourth quarter and then again at the end of the overtime.
His two free throws with four seconds left in regulation sent the game into overtime.
Then, Evans capped his evening by hitting two free throws with five seconds remaining in OT.
“It was not that tough,” said Evans, of the pressure-packed, all-eyes-on-him free throws. “I’ve been playing basketball since I was a little kid. I live for moments like that.”
“He’ll do anything he can to win a game for us. He’s got that mentality,” said LA teammate Julian DeGuzman. “He’s our go-to guy.”
Evans, who recently was named the tourney MVP at the Gulfshore Holiday Hoopfest in Florida, tallied eight of his team’s 10 points in overtime. He hit a three-pointer with 62 seconds left, and then he came up with a steal and layup with 30 seconds to go.
“That’s Ramar playing with a lot of grit,” said LA head coach Tom Livatino. “He steps up and makes plays.”
By his own admission, Evans first-half performances was not one for the ages. He had just five points heading into the third quarter.
“I was pretty bad in the first half,” he said. “Really struggling.
“But I was able to throw the first half away,” added Evans.
And ultimately, he was able to impress — in a big way — his future college coach: Maryville’s Kevin Carroll.
“Having your college coach in the stands adds a little something,” noted Livatino.
Evans knew that he had some important eyeballs on him.
“I didn’t want him to think differently of me,” Evans said.
Loyola Academy Game Balls: Ramar Evans, Kevin Cunningham
St. Joseph Game Balls: Marquise Walker
Player of the Game: Evans
Unsung Hero: Loyola’s Julian DeGuzman
Loyola Academy Stat Leaders: Evans (27 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals), Cunningham (18 points, 4 threes, 2 rebounds), DeGuzman (5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 charges taken), Matt Sechman (7 rebounds, 2 blocks)
St. Joseph Stat Leaders: Walker (13 points), Ahmad Muhammad (12 points), Jalen Boyd (13 points)
Notable: Cunningham played a key role in LA’s win. He contributed points in each quarter, including six in the third and five in the fourth. Despite giving up several inches, the 6-foot guard used some crafty moves to convert a couple baskets in the paint. His four three-pointers went a long way in helping the Ramblers to pull off the comeback. … DeGuzman made two very important defensive plays in this game. He took a charge with 1:16 left in the fourth quarter. And he took another charge with 1:10 left in overtime. … Sechman had some nice stretches. He pulled down four rebounds in final three minutes of the first half. He also blocked two shots. … The game had one buzzer beater. LA’s Kai Khasu, a reserve guard, capped the third quarter by scoring on a put back. … With the loss, St. Joseph is now 7-7 (3-2 in league) on the season.