Buzzer-beater saves Belen’s season, sends Wolverines to first state basketball final

People sometimes say their lives flash before their eyes in moments of extreme stress or danger.

Belen guard Javi Rosell said his four-year high school career flashed before his eyes for a split second on Thursday afternoon.

“When I saw the shot get blocked, I saw all the moments, all the hard work the past four years and I was like, ‘Oh no, it’s all over,’” Rosell said. “And then like a second later, it was all still here.”

Rosell and all of the Belen Jesuit faithful can thank reserve forward Alejandro Lopez for keeping the Wolverines’ state championship hopes alive after his buzzer-beating put back shot lifted them to an incredible 59-58 victory over Orlando Jones in a Class 5A state semifinal at the RP Funding Center.

With Belen down by a point and the final seconds ticking away, Rosell fired a three-pointer from the top of the key that came up way short of the rim. Lopez crashed the boards and snared the airball just a couple of feet away from the rim and quickly put up a shot that rattled home while the final buzzer sounded.

“I usually crash the boards no matter what, but I saw it being short and I just said I had to go get that,” Lopez said. “I can’t even explain it. I’m still shaking.”

Just like that, the finish of Belen’s boys’ basketball state final four debut became legend as the Wolverines players piled on Lopez in celebration at halfcourt while a large contingent of their fans, who crowded over half of one side of the arena’s stands, cheered wildly.

“My wife says that if I say ‘super cool,’ I sound like a 12-year old, but really there’s no other way to describe that than by saying, ‘That was super cool,’” Belen coach Gaston “Chachi” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez has been to Lakeland multiple times. Already one of two Miami-Dade County boys’ basketball coaches to win state titles at two schools, along with Columbus’ Andrew Moran, Rodriguez now became the first to lead three different schools to a state semifinal victory.

But none of his players had ever played at the state tournament.

After a winning play that would have made the late former N.C. State center Lorenzo Charles and coach Jim Valvano proud, the Wolverines (27-4) are one more win away from winning the school’s first state championship in the sport if they can beat Daytona Beach Mainland on Saturday in the 5A final at 3 p.m.

“We’re going to party like rockstars for the next hour and a half…and then it’s time to go watch film again,” Rodriguez said.

Things looked bleak for Belen when they trailed 43-34 late in the third quarter. But much like their winning play, the Wolverines’ up-tempo style of pressure defense leading to quick scores flipped the game in an instant.

Belen put together a 12-0 run that took less than a minute of game time, setting up a wild finish in the fourth quarter. Jones nearly matched Belen with a similar style of play, which induced 17 turnovers by the Wolverines.

But Belen finished with 13 steals and Jones committed 22 turnovers.

Ryan Cuellar finished with 16 points and was one of four Wolverines who scored in double figures. Rosell totaled 15 points and seven rebounds. Kevin Garcia had 12 points and 10 rebounds and Bryce Fitzgerald had 11 points and three steals.

Jones also had four players score in double figures, led by Jamari Sands’ 17 points. Jaquail Sands’ steal and score with 11.8 seconds left gave the Tigers a 58-57 lead.

After a timeout, Belen nearly turned it over again in the backcourt before Rosell corralled the ball and dribbled his way past halfcourt, shaking off Jaquari Sands enough to put up his shot that appeared to have been tipped by Omari Henry before Lopez scooped it up and quickly heaved the ball to the hoop.

Lopez finished with five points and three rebounds in a little over 18 minutes. But Rodriguez was quick to note the value that he and Belen’s other bench players have brought during the team’s breakthrough season.

“Our anchors are usually our big guys like (Lopez), Josh Perez, Dillon Diaz, Ignacio Falla, every one of those guys at one point or another this year have made a play,” Rodriguez said. “They all play the same position and yet they’re just happy when one of their brothers makes a play…That’s pretty cool.”

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