Derek Yvon: An Anatomy of His Record-Setting Night
February 7, 2006
Steve Raczynski
Director of Sports Communications
Springfield College
Here was the scenario.
Springfield College was set to host Clark University tonight in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference men's basketball game at SC's Blake Arena. Just another average NEWMAC contest in early February. Right?
Well, not quite. Tonight was different. Tonight was the night where Springfield College senior guard Derek Yvon, a preseason d3hoops.com Third Team All-America, could finally reach 2000. Tonight was the night where Yvon could become the first 2000-point scorer in NEWMAC conference history. And tonight was the night where Yvon could become the all-time scoring leader in Springfield College history.
But there was plenty of suspense, you see, because Derek needed 24 points to reach 2,000. AND he needed 27 to tie and 28 to set the SC scoring record at 2,004. Hassan Robinson, Class of '95, was currently in possession of the SC record at 2,003.
Yet, it was possible. Especially the way Yvon was playing lately. And the way the team was playing, having won three straight and looking as sharp as it had all season long. Derek had just lit up Wheaton College for 32 points three days ago in an easy 19-point win. But he was averaging just 22.5 points (albeit tops in the NEWMAC) coming in.
To expect 28 more? No doubt, it would be a tall order, even though he had scored 29 or more points on six other occasions this year entering the game.
So, would tonight be the night?
And, oh by the way, there was also the "minor detail" of trying to win the game, not expected to be any easy task. Just 18 days ago in Worcester, Massachusetts, Clark had humbled the Pride by a score of 66-58.
So if tonight were the night for Derek, the magical moments were destined to come late in the game, no doubt.
It was a ticklish situation. Just how does one handle a situation like this? Stop the game just once, hoping he accomplishes all his goals that evening? Stop the game twice? What if he scores his 2000th, but doesn't reach 2,004? Stop it three times if he tied the record. No, that was ruled out. And just as importantly, the game score had to be factored in at the time.
Before the game, however, it was decided that, if both goals were accomplished, it would be best to stop the game twice. How often does someone score his or her 2000th career point? And how often does one become the school’s all-time leading scorer?
Now we had to see how it would all play out.
Clark took a 6-0 lead to start the game, and the festive mood within the crowd was beginning to ebb. Derek soon thereafter, however, hit one of his majestic rainbow threes, and everything began to flow SC's way. By halftime, Springfield was leading by 13, and Yvon had hit a big three within the last minute to give him 15 by the intermission. He still needed 13 more to break the record, and, believe me, that was the "talk" at the half.
Two free throws by Yvon with 16:49 left gave SC a 53-41 edge. Yvon at the free throw line, it should be noted, is always a comforting thought if you are a Springfield College fan. After all, he's an 80- percent career free throw shooter. He now had 17 points on the night. He needed 11 more for the record.
With 13:28 left, Yvon hit a tough lay-up, giving the Pride a 59-45 lead. He now had 19. Just 5 more for 2000. And 9 more for the record. Plenty of time. Right?
Well, let's hold the phone just for a moment.
Even with an 11- to 16-point lead, suddenly the ball just didn't seem to be in Derek's hands all that often. Plus, it seemed there were three Cougars surrounding Derek every time he touched it. Plus there was a one-minute rest. Surely, many in the stands were thinking "My God, how could Head Coach Charlie Brock even 'think' of taking him out?" All Derek's family and friends -- and there were plenty of those from nearby East Longmeadow -- and all his former high school teammates -- and there were plenty of those from nearby Cathedral High School in Springfield -- well, they all came to see Derek close the deal tonight. The next two games were on the road. Thus the sense of urgency -- maybe to everyone, with, knowing his demeanor, the possible exception of Derek.
With 6:40 left and Derek safely back into the line-up, the crescendo began to build. At that point, Derek drove to the basket, made the hoop, and he was fouled on the play. He sank the free throw, and he had now tallied 22. By the way, the score was 70-54, Springfield, at the time. Two more for 2,000, six more for the record.
The crowd knew exactly what he needed. The excitement was building. The game was not yet in hand, but Derek's teammates were doing their part to make it so. For example, Jimmy Mack, a little-used guard and Derek's friend and classmate, was destined to play just 14 minutes, but from out of nowhere he scored a season-high 12 points, including an unlikely 4-for-4 from 3-point range. Brian Riley, another senior classmate who has been playing extremely well lately, was on his way to his 4th consecutive double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Mike DeCesar, another senior and the team's other co-captain (besides Derek) was playing a solid game, as he scored 13 points and added 6 rebounds. Junior forward Damian Farley was doing more than chipping in with his 8 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. And junior point guard Anthony Pizzo, forced to play 36 minutes because of the ankle injury keeping his running mate, sophomore Jamaal Gibbs, on the sidelines, was scoring 6 points, and also playing a great floor game with 8 assists and 4 steals.
His teammates were really helping Derek out to this point. But now, it was Derek's time. In other words, it was time to get Derek the ball -- and he was poised to make it happen.
At 5:47, there was a missed 3-pointer. That was OK. With 5:05 left, a drive to the hoop. Surely he was fouled, but no call. With 4:33 to go, another drive to the hoop. Hey, he doesn't miss lay-ups that badly. He had to be fouled. But again no call.
The clock was ticking. Was tonight, indeed, to be the night?
Then it happened.
With 3:40 to go, Yvon glides to the basket as he has done so often before. This time, he lays it in, and the place goes batty. He had scored his 2000th career point. Accomplished by only 16 other Division III New Englanders in the past. A rare feat. So, we'll wait for the next dead ball to honor him. The clock should stop at any moment.
But things don't go "quite as planned." There is no immediate dead ball. Clark's Godfrey Duncan misses a jumper and DeCesar comes down with the defensive rebound. Hey, we're still playing.
And suddenly there's the ball in Derek's hands from straightaway and just beyond the arc.
Swish. 3:01 to play. Now up by 21. Game, effectively, over.
More bedlam. Two trips down the floor, two milestones. He's already scored his 2000th and now he's tied the school record. Everyone is going bonkers. Records are tumbling too fast. Hey, Derek, hold on a minute. But still there's no deadball.
Finally, Pizzo, the littlest and feistiest guy on the court, decides "Some order, please." He fouls Byron Roberts, who makes his first free throw. And this is where Coach Brock decides "we can wait no longer".
"How many timeouts do we have left? Three?"
"Coach, call one now, we're up 21. And there's only 2:51 left."
Timeout, it is. A game ball with "2000" painted on it is handed to the coach, then on to Derek. Time for a quick picture with the coach. Nice words blared by long-time P.A. announcer Jim Ahearn, followed by thunderous applause.
In a span of 39 seconds, Derek had scored his 2000th point and TIED Robinson's all-time record at 2,003. Could he now BREAK it? Yes, there is still unfinished business. Derek and his teammates head back onto the court.
Well, it didn't take very long. Two more times down the court to be exact. And with 2:33 remaining, Yvon found himself all alone with the ball one step away from the basket. This was too easy. Derek takes that one step and lays it in.
Yet more bedlam. The record is finally broken. 10 years in the waiting. The bountiful Derek Yvon fanclub is chanting his name.
But no stoppage yet.
It took another 16 seconds before the next deadball came about. "Do we have any more timeouts?" Yes, there's two left, and we're still up by 19."
Timeout, it is. This time there was even more celebration. Another game-ball, this one with "2004" painted on it. More photos. Hugs all around. And the crowd was showering Derek with a deservingly, long ovation.
Derek Yvon had needed 28 points to have all the loose ends tied together in a pretty package when the evening started. He managed to score 29, and combined three magical, whirling dervish-type moments in a span of one minute and 17 seconds. And Springfield handily won the game to boot. The script, as it was perfectly written, had all come true.
Long after the game was over and all the interviews were completed, there were only a few hearty souls still lurking on the Blake Arena floor just as the bleachers were being folded away and the lights were dimming.
One of those hearty souls was named Derek Yvon. It was as if he, for some reason, did not want the night to end.
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Head Coach Charlie Brock
Charlie Brock in 2008-09 will enter his 11th season as the head coach at Springfield College. Brock’s achievements as a coach are certainly impressive, as he has taken three schools to the NCAA Division III Tournament and has an overall, 28-year record of 379-350 for a winning percentage of .519. Read more.