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Cousin, Decker Lead Somers Basketball To Historic Win

SOMERS, N.Y. – Conor Cousin scored just nine points in Somers’ game against Iona Prep Thursday, but they were nine of the most important points in the program’s recent history.

Cousin hit three three-pointers -- including the game-winner -- from almost the exact same spot in the final minute to lift the Tuskers’ to a shocking 59-58 win against the Gaels at the Slam Dunk Tournament at the Westchester County Center.

But he didn't do it alone.

Teammate John Decker poured in 39 points, the second-most in Slam Dunk history. He had the first 17 points for Somers and at one point in the fourth quarter accounted for 33 of the Tuskers’ 42 points.

He put the win in perspective after the game.

“No one in the world expects us to win this game,” Decker said. “I mean no one even knows who Somers is… No one expects us to win. I’m sure we shocked 99 percent of the people in the county, except for Somers.”

Decker earned MVP honors for the game and later discussed his prime-time performance.

“I never got any recognition in my life,” Decker said. “ I've always been that slow kid that could never do anything. I just really want to show people what I’m made of.”

The win was all the more impressive considering the opponent and the deficit. Somers trailed, 50-35, with 5:30 left in the game and had to contend with the Gaels’ Matt Ryan, who was just as much on fire as Decker.

Ryan finished with 27 of Iona Prep’s 58 points and nearly changed the outcome of the game at the free throw line in the final five seconds. After a timeout, he missed his second free throw to keep Iona Prep’s lead at two instead of pushing it to three.

Max Parks grabbed the rebound and handed it off to Decker, who pushed it down court to Cousin in the corner. When asked if the final sequence was designed that way during the timeout, Cousin chuckled.

“I mean I guess you could say that,” Cousin said.

What is not up for debate is Cousin and Decker led Somers to a win it can be proud of for the rest of the season and beyond.

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