Roman Catholic’s Semaj Robinson ‘doesn’t shy away’ from big moments

A less resilient player might have folded like origami or just flown the coop altogether.

When a game is on the line, some players want the ball. Others hide from it, choosing instead to let teammates deal with the pressure.

But after missing two late free throws in regulation Sunday afternoon against Devon Prep, Roman Catholic junior guard Semaj Robinson responded by making the game-winning layup in the game’s final moments.

“I was down on myself,” Robinson said after the Cahillites outlasted the Tide, 70-67, in double overtime. “But my teammates, and my coaches told me to keep my head up. It’s going to come back to you.”

The 5-foot-9 point guard finished with four points, besting his season average (1.1) through 16 games.

Robinson, 17, is the son of Cristo Rey High coach Kyle Sample, one of the most prominent trainers and AAU coaches (K-Low Elite) in the city.

So, a few days before the Jan. 26 contest against Devon Prep, Robinson asked Sample to watch film and provide ways that he could help his team following Roman’s Jan. 23 loss to Father Judge.

Roman’s roster is replete with offensive talent. Sample told his son about being “mentally ready,” “cutting without the ball,” and “adding value” to the team defensively.

Each nugget was necessary.

» READ MORE: Stephon Ashley follows in his brother’s footsteps as Neumann Goretti’s scoring guard

Robinson stepped to the line with 16.9 seconds left in regulation with his team ahead, 63-60.

Before he fired, a prescient Devon Prep supporter screamed, “two misses; two misses.”

After Robinson missed both, the Tide immediately rushed up court, where senior guard Mason Thear drilled a three-pointer to send the game into overtime.

Thanks partially to Robinson’s stingy defense, Thear finished with just eight points, below his average (12.5) and significantly less than the 27 he scored against La Salle College High School in the team’s previous contest.

Robinson, however, didn’t hide from the ball in overtime. He cut, received a pass, and made a critical layup in the first extra frame. And repeated a similar sequence with seconds left in the second overtime.

Both assists came from Roman senior forward Shareef Jackson. Junior forward Sammy Jackson added a late layup before time expired.

“I know I’m the little guy,” Robinson said.

He added: “I feel like my teammates have confidence in me because of the way I am, the way I talk on offense, defense, and how I work in practice and in games. They have confidence in me when it’s time to shine.”

Roman coach Chris McNesby echoed similar sentiments.

“He’s a tough kid,” he said. “From North Philly. He’s a competitor, he loves the game, and he doesn’t shy away. And I’m happy for him because he missed the free throws, and I know it was killing him. So for him to make a great cut and then make a layup was huge. He plays a big role for us.”

» READ MORE: Penn Charter’s Jake West relishes his role as a clutch shooter: ‘I know how confident I am’

Sample couldn’t attend the game. Cristo Rey, which competes in the Penn-Jersey Athletic Association and the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association, had conflicting schedules that day.

Still, Sample, who played at Cardinal Dougherty and at Northeast High School with his lifelong friend Kyle Lowry, could barely contain his pride days later.

“For [Robinson] to go out there and apply what we saw on film,” Sample said, “I thought was very impressive as a player and as a coach. As a father, oh man, it was huge. I played in the Catholic League a long time ago … I always wanted to give him the opportunity to create his own lane and write his own story, and to see him stay resilient, be tough, and be ready when his number was called, it was a proud dad moment.”