Pinelands got Ramon Simmons back.
Their losing ways weren’t too far behind.
Premier League basketball’s title teasers seem satisfied flirting with victory as Gary Miller came up with a crucial steal but missed the game-winning triple to allow Roll-A-Way St John Sonics to escape with Thursday’s last-second 59-57 thriller at the Wildey Gym.
It was the sweet reprieve for a St John side that threatened to throw away all of a 15-point third-quarter lead before seemingly doing likewise with their 52-43 cushion with 7:03 remaining.
But Pinelands proved equally wasteful, squandering Charles Vanderpool’s late-game heroics – an effort which included five straight points and seven of his team’s final 12 during a 14-7 rally.
At least they’re finding new ways to lose.
This one – their second straight defeat and fourth in six games – wasn’t their trademark meltdown, even if it felt like the same heartache all over again, as the Pine gallantly got within three twice inside the final two minutes.
Miller then made the game a two-point contest (59-57) with 15 seconds left after scoring in the paint, and this was before he stole the ensuing St John inbounds pass.
However, the opportunity went a-begging when the rash forward settled for a rushed three-pointer with about seven seconds still remaining on the clock, leading to an easy Sonics rebound.
The last-gasp finish overshadowed Simmons’ belated return from injury in a contest billed as a showdown between two of the league’s best big men in Vanderpool and Akeem Marsh.
And just like the game’s initial returns, the matchup looked more blowout than battle after Marsh rattled off four straight treys in a period spanning the second and third quarters, where Sonics turned a 19-13 lead into a 35-20 cushion.
Vanderpool wasn’t to be outdone though, scoring seven straight points on a dunk and transition lay-up before returning for two free throws to cap a furious fourth-quarter rally.
Marsh led Sonics, who moved to fourth with a 4-2 record, with 20 points and 15 rebounds, and Stefan Clarke scored ten. Vanderpool finished with 19 points and ten boards while Kurt Elias had 12 points.
Earlier, Corey McDonald had a league-best 40 points, including the go-ahead free throw with 33.3 seconds left as the suspension-ravaged First Works Warriors rallied for their second straight win in a 73-70 comeback over Colombian Emeralds International Senators.
Led by Selwyn Brooks’ 20 points, Senators (2-5) actually led by as many as 12 (53-41) at half-time before Warriors went on a 21-8 third-quarter run to take a 62-61 lead heading into the fourth.
Randy Simmons added ten points, including two clinching free throws with 16 seconds remaining, as Warriors improved to 4-2.