SPRINGFIELD — With six seconds left in the NEWMAC quarterfinals against Wheaton College, the Springfield College men’s basketball team trailed by two points.
Wheaton’s Christian Simpson missed his second free throw, as it bounced off the right side of the rim, the ball fell into the hands of the man who leads the Pride in scoring, rebounding and assists – Northampton native Jake Ross.
Ross put his head down and plowed his way down the court. The freshman made his way into the paint and released a floater with under two seconds remaining in regulation. Swish.
Ross tied the game for the Pride and sent it into overtime.
In overtime, Ross came through for Springfield with five made free throws down the stretch to give the team the 85-82 victory. Ross finished with 30 points and 17 rebounds.
The first-year standout has been making plays like the one he made Wednesday night all year long. Ross has had few missteps in his transition into the college game and college in general.
He believes the best way to balance demanding schoolwork and tiring basketball practices is to plan ahead.
“When it comes to schoolwork, you have to pick days where you can just sit down and grind things out,” he said. “Then whenever there is an opportunity to get in the gym you need to take advantage of it. The more times you take advantage of those opportunities, the more you see results on the court and in the classroom.”
The freshman also believes that the tutelage of his former coaches at Northampton, Rey Harp and Williston Northampton, Michael Shelton, helped mold him into the player he is today.
“Coach Harp definitely made me enjoy the game and to want to be in the gym at night,” he said. “He helped me cherish and have fun doing what I do. Shelton taught me how to grind, and how to be gritty. I think the combination of those two coaches have helped me become a good college player.”
Ross has had many of memorable moments already in his time on Alden Street, but if he had to narrow them down, one sits at the top — when the Pride defeated No.1 Amherst College on Dec. 14, 71-70.
“The Amherst game was an absolute thriller,” he said. “We were up nine points at halftime and then they came back and played great defense in the second half. We just stuck our nose out and won by a point, it was incredible to go through that experience with the group of guys we have on this team.”
Ross already leads the NEWMAC conference in points per game (22.9), field goals made, free throws made and steals (45), but his goals as a college athlete go much further than individual milestones.
“We want to win a national championship,” said Ross. “To get there we have to take it step by step. Next year we have everyone coming back, so I think we will be recognized as favorites, but I do think down the road we will be very comfortable because we have been together for so long.”