Pfister’s ‘Flu Game’ powers Blazers to first-ever region title
Despite playing through sickness, GMC center Jack Pfister put up 24 points and 14 rebounds in the Blazer victory over Landrum.
Halfway through the second quarter of Tuesday’s region title game against Landrum, GMC center Jack Pfister motioned to the bench. He needed to come out of the game, and he needed to come out now.
Pfister wasn’t injured. He wasn’t gassed and seeking a quick breather. He wasn’t in foul trouble, either.
The Blazers’ star 6-foot-4 senior had to leave the game for a reason he can probably explain best.
“I felt it coming, I knew I was about to throw up,” said Pfister. “I told Coach [Jamar] Armstrong ‘I’ve got to go,’ and as soon as I got back to the bench, I ran into the locker room and it all came out.”
It was the third or fourth time Pfister had let it all go that day — he’d lost count. Pfister woke up feeling nauseous but couldn’t miss Tuesday night’s game against Landrum for anything. It was senior night at Greer Middle College, and the region championship was on the line.
“I woke up in the morning feeling really queasy. I went to school thinking it may just be hunger pains, but I wasn’t hungry all day,” said Pfister. “Every time I tried to eat today, I threw up. But I wasn’t missing this game. No chance.”
“Jack was under the weather big time,” said GMC head coach Jamar Armstrong. “This was his ‘flu game’ in a way.”
Pfister smiled after hearing his performance given that name. Much like Michael Jordan’s ‘flu game’ in the 1998 NBA Finals, Pfister played the hero for the Blazers while battling an intense sickness.
Pfister came right back into the game after throwing up at the end of the first half. He didn’t leave the game again. Pfister finished with 24 points and 14 boards to lead the Blazers to a 61-56 win over rival Landrum.
With the win, GMC claimed the co-region championship with Landrum — the Blazers’ first region title in program history.
“This feels amazing,” said Pfister, who had to throw up again immediately after the game. “Okay, physically, it doesn’t feel amazing. But every other part of this feels great.”
“For Jack to be sick and still come out here and give us everything he had, that shows the kind of senior leader he is,” said Armstrong.
“He put the team on his back tonight. I’m so proud of him.”
TRUST IN THE TEAM
Beating Landrum was already going to be a tall task for the Blazers.
The Cardinals had already edged out GMC two weeks prior, winning 58-55 on their home court.
Four days before the highly-anticipated rematch, however, the Blazers were dealt a massive blow. GMC’s star senior point guard Musa Muriithi suffered a severe knee injury against Blacksburg.
MRIs on Monday confirmed the worst: Muriithi’s injury would require surgery. He’d miss the rest of the season.
Heading into Tuesday’s matchup with Landrum, the Blazers were without one of their best players.
“Everybody in the state thought we would get smoked tonight without Musa,” said Armstrong. “Nobody gave us a chance.”
Muriithi was on the sideline on crutches, cheering his teammates on and providing encouragement throughout the entire game. In his absence, several Blazers stepped up to provide a spark.
Junior guard Braylen Silver finished with 16 points, while freshman Carlos Miller hit back-to-back late three-pointers from the corners to help GMC pull away. Miller finished with nine points.
“Musa’s our main ball-handler, so I had to step up and fill that role a little bit tonight,” said Silver.
“We played without him for most of the game when he got injured [against Blacksburg], so I had to learn some things that game to prepare me for this one.”
“Losing Musa hurt, but we always talk about how we’re a great team and not just built around one person,” said Miller. “The big thing for us tonight was just trusting in each other.”
Despite the odds being stacked against them, the Blazers never wavered. They went in with full confidence in the team, and it paid off.
“I told all the guys before the game, ‘Y’all still got me,’” said Armstrong. “I’m your coach, and no matter what happens, I’m not going to give up on you. They trusted the process and got the win.”
THE STORY CONTINUES
Emotions poured out when the final buzzer sounded.
Armstrong ran around and threw his hands to the sky. Pfister — visibly exhausted, a little pale, and still feeling queasy — pumped his fist. Silver bounced the ball off the ground and into the air, walking over to the GMC student section and yelling toward the rowdy Blazer fans.
The goal coming into the season for GMC was simple: they wanted to hang their first basketball banner. By clinching the co-region championship, they’ll get to do just that.
“To finally win the region and to finally beat Landrum means everything,” said Pfister. “I’ve been wanting this for a long time.”
“I was just ready for that clock to hit zero, I kept saying to myself ‘Let’s get out of here,’” said Armstrong.
“It’s hard to put into words how amazing it feels. This is one of the biggest wins in our program’s history.”
But the Blazers have their sights set on more. After following up Tuesday’s win over Landrum with a 69-54 victory over the Cardinals in Thursday’s region tie-breaker game, they’ll go into the 2-A playoffs with the No. 1 seed.
GMC’s journey toward a potential first-ever state championship begins on Feb. 13 when Saluda comes to town for a first-round matchup.
“We’re excited about the opportunity we have in front of us,” said Armstrong. “We’re going to play hard every game we have left.”
THE SCORE BY QUARTERS
Landrum 12 4 24 16 - 56
GMC 12 8 25 16 - 61
GMC STAT LEADERS
Jack Pfister - 24 points, 14 rebounds, 4 blocks
Braylen Silver - 16 points, 7 rebounds
Carlos Miller - 9 points
Titus Shenton - 8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists