Lightning Strikes Twice!

A Bench Warmer Memory from Bob Cairns

Back in 1960 Pernell Millberry was one of the best shots on the Francis Scott Key Eagles’ bench. How did I know?  Because he sat beside me on the high school’s bench and told me this during every game we played.

Now, as fate would have it, we played Walkersville High School, arguably the best team in our neighboring county.

How did we do?

Not so good. In fact, by the end of the first half with their big talented center, Ronnie Linton just handing us our lunch, we found ourselves behind by 14 points. And to this day, our coach, Harry Lambert, who was really crafty and known for playing hunches, can’t explain why he made the move.

“We just couldn’t get anything going, and so just on a whim, I guess, when we took the court for the second half, I put Millberry in the game,” Lambert said.

And it was like my old bench mate, regarding his assessment of his talents, was Nostradamus.

For the final two quarters everything Pernell threw up was good. It was one swish after another and with the clock winding down, with just seconds left, he cut loose another one. Nothing but the bottom. Our entire bench was on its feet now shouting, “Strings!” Pernell upset this really good Walkersville team.

The next morning a Frederick Post headline read:

Francis Scott Key’s Millberry Upsets Walkersville

Now, with Pernell this story wasn’t over. Did he almost singlehandedly win another game for Francis Scott Key?  No, but he was never without the proof of his night of nights. Wherever Pernell went, the article—tucked in his wallet---was with him.  And it was his habit to (for instance at high school reunions) call on his former bench mates to tell the Walkersville story.

In fact, he called on our principal at our class’s45th gathering (after Pernell had offered the invocation) to stand and tell his classmates about the Walkersville game.

Now, I think most benchwarmers (what with our histories) would agree that, as in the case of Pernell Millberry, history would never repeat itself.

But years later our coach and his wife Ginie were walking down the street in Westminster, Maryland, and who should be coming right at them? Pernell!

“Pernell, slow down I want you to show Ginie that article you keep in your wallet about the Walkersville game!” Coach Lambert said.

“Sorry, Coach,” Pernell said, “But, I’m in kind of a hurry. I just had another Walkersville moment. I hit the LOTTO for $50,000, and I’m headed to the dealership to pick up my new Cadillac!”