Kyle Goldcamp

Kyle Goldcamp stays with it. He does not back down.

“You know me by now,” he said with a wide grin. “I’m going to put my nose in the middle of everything.”

For players like Sean Williams, Goldcamp is a handful.

See, Williams has talent. Hops. Some skill. Can shoot for a big fella.

He’s certainly more talented than Goldcamp.

The Texas Legends power forward put up the kind of numbers someone from the NBA should  Friday night – game-high 29 points, three blocks. The Dallas Mavericks sent Williams down to the Legends.

However, his team blew a 20-point lead and lost, 118-115, to the Erie BayHawks at Tullio Arena and he wasn’t in the game when it mattered.

Why?

Because Goldcamp outworked him.

“I’ve gone against tough guys,” Goldcamp said. “He’s another tough one.”

Goldcamp finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds so it was it wasn’t like the former Gannon standout didn’t play well, but his biggest contribution to Erie’s win was frustrating Williams by simply playing harder than him.

Williams  wound up fouling out. He picked up a technical foul with 6:13 left in the game when he was called for his fifth foul after failing to keep Goldcamp off the glass. Goldcamp finished the offensive rebound with a bucket.

Fired up, Goldcamp celebrated on the floor after Williams knocked him to the deck. The basket got Erie within three, 105-102.

Visibly upset at this point, Williams picked up his sixth foul 41 seconds later.

Credit Goldcamp for taking Williams out of his game in more ways than one.

He stays with it. He does not back down.