CRAWFORD | Buried Early: 25-point deficit stops The Ville despite comeback in TBT loss

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Nostalgia draws a crowd. But shot-making and defense win in July.

The Ville — a roster stacked with Louisville fan favorites — had the crowd, the energy, and, for a time, a furious fourth-quarter rally. But Sideline Cancer had Jermaine Marrow, a 6-for-7 night from three-point range, and just enough poise to finish what it couldn’t last year.

One year after letting a double-digit lead slip away to The Ville in this same Freedom Hall setting, Sideline Cancer returned and flipped the script — storming to a 25-point lead, then holding off a second-half comeback that cut the margin to four before back-to-back Marrow threes brought them to the Elam Ending in a 73–63 win in the second round of The Basketball Tournament.

Montrezl Harrell led all scorers with 21 points and powered a 21-7 run that turned a 60–42 deficit into a two-possession game. But Marrow hit three of his six threes in the final four minutes, including a dagger from the wing on Sidelines next possession, then another after a turnover by The Ville to close the game out.

The Ville’s comeback ran out of momentum.

As Sideline Cancer players celebrated by rushing toward the baseline — and taunted, of all people, current Louisville players and Cardinals alum Jordan Nwora — Harrell gathered his things and exited, flinging a sneaker the length of the Freedom Hall tunnel on his way out.

No Louisville players were made available for comment after the game.

Montrezl Harrell slams home two of his game-high 21 points in The Ville’s TBT loss to Sideline Cancer in Freedom Hall.

ERIC CRAWFORD

The Ville shot just 5-for-27 from 3-point range (18.5%) and committed 15 turnovers. Chris Jones had 7 points but struggled to find space. Jay Scrubb shot 1-for-6. David Johnson added 11 points, including a pair of fourth-quarter threes that helped fuel the rally.

But Sideline Cancer shot 53.7% overall, made 12 threes, and got a combined 55 points from Marrow (20), Marcellus Earlington (13), Alonzo Verge Jr. (11), and Keith Braxton (9). They scored 28 points in the paint and 35 off the bench.

It was a reversal from last year’s script. Then, Sideline Cancer collapsed late. This time, The Ville trailed by as many as 25 in the third quarter, clawed within 63–60 with 2:37 left — but never led.

“You can’t spot a good team that many points,” said interim coach Luke Hancock. “Not in this tournament.”

Hancock, coaching the squad for the first time in the TBT, admitted the group’s inconsistency and deep roster complicated rotation decisions.

Sideline Cancer players celebrate after knocking of The Ville in Freedom Hall in a TBT game in Freedom Hall on July 20, 2025.

ERIC CRAWFORD

“It’s very tough to have that much talent across the board,” he said. “Everybody wants to play 36 minutes. And you’re trying to spread it around and keep the bench engaged — but also go with what’s working late.”

He praised the group’s defensive effort in the second half, especially during the press-fueled rally, and said he wished he had turned up the pressure earlier.

“When we had all that momentum, one or two of those little things go our way, and we win that game,” Hancock said. “But I give them a lot of credit. They weren’t scared of us. They weren’t scared of the environment.”

It marked The Ville’s first time failing to reach the TBT quarterfinals since entering the tournament.

“It’s disappointing,” Hancock said. “I put everything I had into this for months — organizing, recruiting, coaching. And so did the people around me. I really cared.”

For a second straight summer, The Ville drew a massive pro-Cardinal crowd and gave it a show. But for a second straight summer, the run ended too early.

The names were familiar. The setting was loud. But in the end, the scoreboard doesn’t care much for sentiment.

CRAWFORD | Buried Early: 25-point deficit stops The Ville despite comeback in TBT loss | Sports

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