BY JARED NOLAN

In print | Published February 26, 2009

Swarthmore men’s basketball closed the 2008-2009 season Saturday in Haverford’s Gooding Arena. The Garnet (3-21, 2-16 CC) came into the rivalry match riding two straight home victories, but the Fords’ disruptive defense proved to be too formidable for Swarthmore’s shooters. With the 44-36 win, Haverford (12-12, 9-9 CC) clinched the fifth and final seed in the Centennial Conference playoffs.

In the last meeting between the two teams, the Fords pulled out a 43-40 victory after the Garnet missed a number of last-second three point attempts. Swingman Ryan Carmichael ’11 led Swarthmore in that match with 18 points off four-of-seven-shooting from three-point land. On Saturday, however, the Garnet had to make do without Carmichael, who was sidelined after contracting mono.

In a game where points were at a premium, the Garnet sorely missed its sharpshooter. “Ryan’s absence was a huge deal, especially for this particular game,” co-captain Matt Allen ’10 said. “We knew they were going to be running a zone, and it is important to have shooters that can stretch the zone and hopefully get them out of it.”

Haverford’s effective 1-3-1 zone defense was a constant source of trouble for the Garnet. “Their zone defense is not what we are accustomed to playing against,” said co-captain Raul Ordonez ’09. “We had to play out of our comfort zone and had difficulty executing against it.” Ordonez led Swarthmore with 12 points in his final game, but his teammates often had trouble finding him open in the post, even though a smaller player was often guarding him. “We were trying to get it into him,” Head Coach Lee Wimberly said, “but they were doubling him whenever he caught the ball.”
Haverford forced Wimberly’s players to take outside shots — Carmichael’s specialty — and in congruence with a season-long theme, Swarthmore was unable to connect from long range (the team was last in the conference in overall field goal percentage and three point shooting percentage). In the first half, the Garnet missed all 11 of its three-point attempts and only managed to put 11 points on the board.

Over the first five minutes of the first half, the Fords’ defense was in full effect as they steadily built a 10-0 lead. Swarthmore clawed its way back into the game, however, and when Andrew Greenblatt ’12 found Ordonez open near the basket, he capitalized on the rare opportunity and made the lay-up plus a foul. The ensuing free throw tied the game at 11. The Garnet could not manage another point in the half, however, and Haverford entered the break leading 18-11.

Swarthmore remained within striking distance for the entire second period but could never close the gap. Michael Giannangeli ’12 filled a part of Carmichael’s void by nailing three shots from behind the arc en route to 11 total points, but the Garnet failed to get the deficit below six. The best window of opportunity came during a stretch where the Fords missed five of six free throws, but turnovers and poor shooting ultimately doomed Swarthmore.

Even though his team only managed three victories in his final season, Ordonez still found positives. “Our team drastically improved throughout the year,” he said. “We had our share of tough breaks and disappointments and [my teammates] had plenty of opportunities to give up and pack it in. And yet, this team’s will never wavered.” Winning two of the last three games exemplified this determination. “It was truly an honor to lead my teammates on the court,” he added.

Ordonez also reached a notable milestone in his last season. In the second-to-last game, a 48-47 victory over Washington on Senior Night, Ordonez tied the Swarthmore record for most charges in a season – 22.

Since Ordonez is the only senior on the team, the Garnet should be able to build on the momentum gained by the two late upsets. “[The victories] definitely reminded us that we can win games and compete in this league,” Allen said. And Haverford should watch out next season, because Saturday’s defeat has motivated the Garnet’s point guard. “I haven’t beaten Haverford at their place in my three years here, so I want to do that before I graduate,” he said. He’ll get one more chance.

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