Jonas Emilsson
www.KramMag.com

To the casual observer the simple action of making good on a shot from the charity stripe seems like a menial task compared to a lot of other exciting things that take place in a 40-minute basketball game.

But to a basketball junkie, the importance of hitting the freebies is as important as executing the offense and playing tight defense.

Quite often, a coach will be quoted after a game blaming his team’s inability to hit the freebies down the stretch as a reason for their team failing to win, which will lead to the inevitable, and dreaded, free-throw shooting drill during the team’s next practice – everyone line up for a free throw and when somebody misses, the entire team runs suicides. Good times!

This weeks’ Kram Player of the Week most likely saved his teammate’s lungs by being clutch from the line in a tight game against the Henry Wise Wood Warriors during the Spolumbo’s Game of the Week prior to the extended exam break.

With both teams taking turns holding the lead in the final minutes of game, Tomiyama went 5-for-6 from the line, including two late shots that sealed the deal, on his way to 10 fourth-quarter points.

“I knew that it was a one-possession game so I needed to hit both to make it a two-possession game and ice the game,” said Tomiyama about his two clutch free throws.

But hitting clutch free-throws wasn’t all that grade-12 guard Jordan Tomiyama contributed to help his team earn a 86-81 victory over the Henry Wise Wood Warriors.

Sure, the 5-for-6 free-throw shooting in the fourth quarter Tomiyama accomplished was just as impressive as it was important, but his ability to take charge and run the offense in a tight game was equally impressive.

As one of only four returning seniors, Tomiyama will be relied on heavily to produce and lead the talented Bobcats. If the game against the Warriors is any indication, the team will do just fine this season, and with a very evenly talented group of teams competing for the senior boys’ Div I championship this year, the door is definitely open for the Bobcats to make some noise.

“He’s one of our four returning veterans and he’s kind of like a security blanket out there,” said Bobcats’ head coach Kurt Luttmerding about his 5’10” guard. “In a tight game he will be out there because I know he can make free-throws and I know he’s going to make good decisions with the ball.”

Tomiyama’s contributions weren’t limited to the offensive side of the ball. Late in the game, with both teams taking turns holding the lead, he played a huge role in limiting the Warrior’s big-time scorer Payton Karch from putting points on the board.

“He made the free-throws, he played great pressure defense on their big scorer, he hit a couple timely drives and I think he had maybe two turnovers,” said Luttmerding.

After the Bobcats jumped out to a sizable 16-4 lead in the first quarter, they let off the gas enough to allow the Warriors back in the game.

Knowing that the game was capable of swinging in either direction, Tomiyama recognized the need for himself and the other four returning grade 12 players to step up and take control of the game.

“I knew we needed a leader to come out.,” said Tomiyama. “Our other grade 12s were doing well so I thought that I had to step up my game because the first three quarters weren’t so good.”

Kram 5 with Jordan Tomiyama
What are your sneakers of choice? Nike Hyperize
What is your favourite movie? The Hangover
What is your favourite NBA team? Toronto Raptors
Who is your favourite NBA player? Kobe Bryant
What is your favourite pre-game meal? Pasta or Chicken