Veritas de ludo pilae in corbem immittendae

TBT (The Basketball Tournament) is but a diversion.

A curio. A Hopalong Cassidy lamp you find at Fleur de Flea that takes you back to happier times oof your youth.

It is when you can’t get a reservation for three months at the hot new restaurant with the James Beard nominated chef that got a rave review in Garden & Gun. And you settle for old Tried and True and Comfortable, even if the food isn’t quite what it once was.

But I’m a hoopaholic.

So, of course, I was tuned in at High Noon on a blistering July Saturday for the first of best of three.

The Ville vs. La Familia.

Down hugely not long before, the Ville surged back and only trailed 59-63 as the Elam Ending commenced.

Jams by David Johnson and Trez Harrell on the good guys’ first possessions with the clock off knotted the tally at 63.

Game on.

First to 71 prevails.

A Trey Lewis triple pulled the Ville within 68-70.

Two big defensive stops provided two sterling chances for the W.

Both botched.

An ill advised miss on a drive (???) by Chris Jones.

An absurd hero-ball attempted three by Harrell — a woeful ill advised misfire.

Blue hung on with a crafty inbounds play for the 72-68 win.

* * * * *

The Ville led at the end of the first nine minute period, 21-17.

In disarray and not moving feet on D, The Ville gave up the last deuce of the opening stanza, then the home team ran off 12 more in a row to start the 2d.

33-41 at intermission.

The deficit enlarged to 43-60 with 2:14 left in the 3d.

Enter Alex Matthews.

You are excused if his name doesn’t register. He wasn’t a Cardinal. He now toils professionally for BC Orbi in Georgia, the country not the Peach State. He played collegiately at UTPB.

University of Texas Permian Basin.

You may have heard of it. I had not. Ever. Until today.

His defense keyed The Ville’s comeback. Energized others more familiar to Cardinal fans who stepped up. Blocks by Trez and Malik Williams, who played 22 minutes despite not showing up on the bench until the 2:31 mark of the 1st. (Travel stuff.) Steals. Stops.

It wasn’t enough.

Venimus, vidimus, victi sumus.

Second game of the set is Monday night at Freedom Hall.

— c d kaplan