HERSHEY — Hector Tiburcio dreamed about the opportunity for a long while, ever since Antietam lost to Lancaster Mennonite in last year’s District 3 Class 2A boys basketball title game.
A while ago, he said that defeat “lived in my mind and ran free for a while.”
Tiburcio yearned for another shot at the Blazers. Craved it.
When it came Saturday at Giant Center, he nearly fouled out in the first half. He picked up four fouls in the first 10 minutes and watched the Mounts take a fourth-quarter lead before falling 52-46.
“It was my last opportunity to get it done,” Tiburcio said. “After this, there’s no more. I won’t be here at Giant Center anymore. That’s the most disappointing thing of all. It’s my last ride.”
He wanted to win a championship for his teammates, his school, his community and himself. He wanted to see these Mounts end a 50-year title drought. He wanted to see a banner and a team photo displayed in their honor.
Tiburcio, a 6-2 senior, played in three District 3 finals without a victory. As he stood in line to receive his third silver medal, he hung his head and stared at the court for several minutes.
“I was thinking about a lot of things,” he said. “I was upset. I wish it would have been a different outcome. I wish I wouldn’t have been in foul trouble. I wish I could have played more minutes.”
Tiburcio blamed himself more than anyone or anything else. He always does, according to Antietam coach Mike Green.
“He puts the weight of the world on his shoulders,” Green said.
Tiburcio, however, has been a four-year starter who has helped the Mounts go 61-32 and make two PIAA Tournament appearances. He’s also their second-leading career scorer with 1,409 points.
He’s been the most important ingredient to their success.
“That kid has carried us,” Green said. “He’s been in three district finals in four years. He’s the reason why we got to these games.”
Playing with four fouls for the final 22 minutes, Tiburcio was more careful and less free on both ends of the floor.
He had eight rebounds and four assists, but he took just nine shots and finished with 12 points. That’s below his 16.6 average and less than the 29 he scored in the district final last year or the 23 he scored at Mennonite earlier this season.
“I feel like I let myself down,” Tiburcio said. “I could have done more things down the stretch. I could have played smarter. I could have used my head more. I’m a little disappointed in myself.”
His teammates were not disappointed in him. Alejandro Montero, a fellow senior and a two-year starter, hugged Tiburcio as they cried together inside the locker room.
“Hector does a lot for this team,” Montero said. “I’m proud of how he’s grown. He shouldn’t feel down on himself. He’s a great player. He’s a great person. Even when he was in foul trouble, he was still motivating us.”
Tiburcio would like nothing better than to face Mennonite again, but that’s unlikely. Both teams would have to win three games in the PIAA Tournament to reach the semifinals.
But it doesn’t really matter to him. All he knows is that the Blazers have the gold medals that he wanted badly for himself and his teammates.
“I had to get it done,” he said, “and I didn’t get it done.”
Source: Berkshire mont