ProAm concludes fifth year with championship atmosphere

The crowd was on its feet, stamping and whistling, as P.J. Dozier lined up a free throw. The shot missed, with half the crowd oohing and the other half sighing.

His second one splashed and Founders Federal Credit Union held on to win 105-100 in the S.C. ProAm championship on Sunday. The final game was edge-of-the-seat excitement, exactly what founders Carey Rich and Adam McDowell envisioned when they created the event five years ago.

“Did you see the crowd? Did you see the atmosphere?,” Rich said. “I think this is the ultimate combination of how it’s supposed to be. We had a basketball environment. We had a basketball crowd.”

The ProAm concluded its fifth season like it has the past four – great competition and a Columbia citizenry filling Heathwood Hall’s gym. Crescent Construction, led by USC’s Sindarius Thornwell, looked like it was going to cruise to the title, but Founders took its first lead with 2:57 to play and didn’t trail again.

“It was tough, but we came out here to have fun. We definitely did that,” said Dozier, who scored 19 points with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. “We competed – that was what this ProAm was all about.”

As for the Gamecocks, several played and three (freshman Khadim Gueye was on Thornwell’s team) did on the last day. Thornwell had 25 with seven rebounds, five assists, a steal and two blocks, while the 7-foot-1 Gueye scored six points with seven boards.

USC will leave Aug. 6 for a six-day basketball tour of Costa Rica.

“I think we’re really coming together, and a lot of improvement,” Dozier said. “I’ve seen a lot of improvement in everybody.”

The founders sat at midcourt, enjoying what they’d made. An enthusiastic crowd for the free event was more than enough payment.

“On a day like today, I want to be nothing more than just a fan,” Rich said. “Every time I think about saying, ‘OK, this is my last year doing it,’ it ends on a note like this and I say, ‘Nope. I’m ready for year No. 6.’”