Phelan gives Lake Park consolation title at buzzer

Two missed shots and no points made Kyle Phelan an unlikely candidate to take the big shot for Lake Park on Saturday evening.

But Phelan calmly nailed a 3-pointer from the left wing with 3.9 seconds left to give Lake Park a 49-48 victory over Loyola in the consolation championship game of the 32nd annual Wildcat Hardwood Classic at Wheeling.

"It was probably the biggest shot I've hit in my career thus far," said Phelan, who usually averages about 8 points a game.

Coach Josh Virostko laughed and admitted he didn't even see Phelan's clutch delivery. But Virostko wasn't surprised.

"I was watching (Matt) Drufke and trying to get a call because of the touch foul on our kid," Virostko said of 2 tiebreaking free throws by Loyola's Michael Lang with 41 seconds left. "The thing about Kyle Phelan, and we tell him this every day, is we believe in the young man.

"He needs to learn to relax and play because we know he can shoot."

Virostko wasn't happy with how relaxed the Lancers (7-6) were in giving up 10 points in the first 3:34 of the second half to fall behind 38-32. They responded to an emotionally charged timeout with a 10-point run where they held Loyola scoreless for 6:48 until a layup by Rob Wennington.

"That's what did it," Phelan said. "It wasn't really my last shot. We stepped up and played 'D.' "

Junior Zack Cooper and sophomore Dominique Spencer had 12 points apiece as the Lancers won their third Wheeling consolation title since 2005. They also believe they took more steps toward success after winning just five games a year ago.

"We told them from Day 1 we're trying to change the culture and attitude," Virostko said. "They played a lot of close games last year and didn't win any of them. We had to earn it."

The Lancers did when a pressured 3 by Andrew Kindelin rattled in and out at the buzzer.

"This tournament was a big step, especially the game against Notre Dame," Phelan said of a first-round overtime loss. "Even though we lost we showed everyone watching us, and even us, we're going to come out and compete and do that in every game."