Coolidge High School captured its second-straight D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association men’s basketball championship with a 62-61 thrilling win over northwest D.C. rival Theodore Roosevelt on March 4.
Coolidge edged Roosevelt for the title with a game-winning free-throw made by junior guard Kory Cooley, who was fouled as he attempted to catch an inbound pass with less than 10 seconds left in the game.
Cooley said he envisioned himself making the game-winning shot, although he didn’t expect it to come at the free-throw line. Though he only made one of the two free throws he was awarded, he said he was thankful for the opportunity after going without a point in the first three quarters.
“It was the biggest shot of my life, so far,” Cooley said after a game in which he scored nine points in the fourth quarter after being held scoreless the first three quarters. “I was in a slump but thankfully I made one when it counted.”
Roosevelt (25-3) controlled the game early after a 10-0 run pushed their lead to 28-9 in the second quarter. But Coolidge (22-6) used an 8-0 run of their own to get back into the game and took a 36-34 lead at halftime.
Coolidge’s David Kadiri led all scorers with 20 points.
Roosevelt was led by Johnnie Shuler with 19 points, followed by Mike Warren with 17 points.
