Boys Basketball: ‘Warrior’ Weishar battles flu, nets game winner for Marist

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Updated: February 23, 2012 8:18AM

Nic Weishar never quit. The Marist sophomore overcame his own free throw misses and flu-like symptoms to score a rebound basket with no time remaining to give the host Redhawks a 45-44 victory over Harlan on Saturday evening.

“He hasn’t played or practiced since Tuesday,’’ Marist coach Gene Nolan said. “He was throwing up at halftime and we considered not playing him in the second half. But he doesn’t believe in making excuses.’’

Weishar stepped to the line two different times in the last six seconds of the game and only made the first of his four free throws.

His final miss came with three seconds left and Weishar found himself with the ball on the left side of the basket for the winning bucket.

“Lexus (Williams) made a great play to tip it out to me,’’ Weishar said. “We shot poorly all game. That happens. We didn’t let that hinder us.’’

The Redhawks (16-4) were an anemic 7-for-17 from the line and 2-for-17 from behind the arc. Even with that, Marist fought its way back into the game in the third quarter. Trailing 36-29, the Redhawks ripped off nine straight points to take a 38-36 lead early in the fourth quarter. Weishar scored six of his 22 points during that span, including the go-ahead bucket.

“He is an absolute warrior,’’ Nolan said of Weishar. “I sometimes feel like I’m coaching someone in their 20s. He is mature not only physically but more so mentally.’’

Harlan (11-6) came back to take a 42-38 lead with two minutes left. Anthony Knight scored a basket in that stretch on his way to 12 points and then Andre Hogan converted a layup off a nice feed from Knight to give the Falcons a 44-42 lead with 18 seconds remaining.

L.J. McIntosh scored 12 points for the Redhawks including six in the second quarter when he helped the Redhawks close a double digit deficit to 28-23 at halftime.