Hurliman's Heroics Give Nestucca Title Shot, 47-46

PENDLETON - Kelsea Hurliman's put-back off a missed free throw as time expired led Nestucca to yet another late improbable victory before a capacity crowd at the Pendleton Convention Center. The Bobcat's dramatic 47-46 win over St. Mary's sets up a show down with mighty Santiam in the 2A girls championship Saturday night.

Nestucca 47 - St. Mary's 46

A team that refuses to lose, led by a player who defies description, will be a decided underdog against an overwhelming favorite Saturday night. But that game can wait 24 hours because Friday, March 6, 2009 belongs forever to Kelsea Hurliman and the Nestucca Bobcats.

In one of the most improbable and dramatic finishes in Pendleton playoff history, Hurliman banked in a missed lay-in off a missed free throw that would have tied the game had it went in to begin with. In a span of 4.5 running seconds, the hearts of every fan saw Nestucca almost tie, then almost win, then almost lose, then actually win a game they seemed sure to lose.

St. Mary's entered the game 21-4 and had not lost to a 2A school all season. The Crusaders also possessed 2A's longest active win streak at 17 games. Until the final shot of the game, that streak looked to be 18 straight and counting.

For three and half periods, St. Mary's controlled the game - and to a limited extent - Hurliman. St. Mary's led 12-11 after one period, and 29-21 at the half. The Bobcats shaved a point off that lead, trailing 39-31 to enter the fourth quarter. But a key point in the game came at the 6:54 mark when St. Mary's Veronica Valdez picked up her fourth personal foul and headed to the Crusader bench. The impact on the game was immediate as St. Mary's struggled at both ends of the court without its junior floor leader present. By the time Valdez reentered the game at 3:21, the Bobcats had clawed back to within a point, trailing only 40-39.

At 2:45, Nestucca's Emily Pieren was fouled and hit both free throws to give the 'Cats the lead at 41-40. St. Mary's lead, momentum and confidence had evaporated as Nestucca was back in the game with the best two-player duo this side of Halemeier-Walczak. At 1:37, Domonique Valdez fouled Pieren, which Western Mennonite discovered last night is a recipe for losing a game. The petite but tough-as-nails senior sank both free throws, giving Nestucca a 43-41 lead.

St. Mary's Kylee Adderson went to the line to shoot two free throws moments later. She made the first, but missed the second. However, Crusader sophomore Mackenzie Krieser grabbed the missed free throw and banked in her shot to complete the 3-point swing and give St. Mary's the lead at 44-43.

On the next possession, Hurliman's missed jumper was recovered by the Crusaders, who proceeded to attempt to run out the clock. With many in the Nestucca crowd yelling for coach John Elder to order his team to foul, Elder held his ground. It nearly cost him the game as Domonique Valdez got loose from her defender and found herself wide open and on the receiving end of a crisp assist from her older sister. When her layin dropped through, St. Mary's had a 3-point, 46-43 lead at 0:22 with the clock running.

Nestucca then brought the ball down court and after a mad scramble for a loose ball, Pieren emerged with the ball and stepped back just outside the arc for a last second 3-point attempt. But Krieser jumped out and smacked Pieren during the act of shooting, sending the Bobcat to the line one more time - only this time she had to make all three free throws to send the game into possible overtime. There was no room for error - or was there?

Pieren calmly made the first two shots. With the clock stopped at 4.5 seconds, trailing 46-45, Pieren released her ninth free throw attempt of the game. But the shot rimmed out. Pieren had missed. She didn't tie the game. But wait ... Meghan Ramiskey grabbed the offensive rebound, starting the clock. With an easy uncontested layin, the Bobcats were about to win. But Ramiskey's shot went off the backboard to the opposite side, where it fell to the floor.

Seemingly out of nowhere, Hurliman slashed in, picked up the loose ball near the baseline under the basket, leaped up and banked in an awkward shot that fell through the net as the final buzzer was barely audible over the deafening roar that swept through the arena. For all of her long range shooting, the most important basket of Hurliman's career was made almost too close to the basket.

For the second straight night, Nestucca stormed the court, an act normally reserved for Saturday victories. But for the second straight night Kelsea Hurliman and her Bobcats defied all odds to pull off a pair of late victories that will be remembered and discussed long after she graduates.

Nestucca's Kelsea Hurliman drives the baseline against St. Mary's

Photo by Bruce McCain

Hurliman finished with 19 points, while Pieren scored 13. St. Mary's, which has only one senior on its roster will have a year to remember and recover from this heartbreaking loss. But first the Crusaders must play Enterprise for 3^rd place on Saturday. That's a fast turnaround following such an emotional defeat, but that's what Pendleton play is all about - playing your best right after a tough loss. The Crusaders had no single player in double figure, but everyone who played, scored. Don't be surprised if St. Mary's begins next season at the top of the first 2A coaches poll.

Meanwhile, the unstoppable Santiam juggernaut awaits Nestucca at 6:30 pm Saturday night. The Wolverines are the most dominant team in this tournament and are heavily favored to cruise to the school's first 2A title. Santiam has won more games this year and the last four years than any other 2A school. The Wolverines start two sure 1st Team All-State players, either one of which is a legitimate POY candidate. Santiam already beat Nestucca, 44-29, this year and have only improved since then.

All that stands between Santiam coach Joy Lease and her first Blue Trophy is that pesky #3 seed from the NWL, temporarily coached by the school AD, and led by a stocky point guard who used to strike out boys as a baseball pitcher. No problem.

********************************************************************************

POY UPDATE: Saturday's championship game may very well decide the 2009 2A POY. Right now (with apologies to Ashley Walczak) the only two choices for voting coaches are Hurliman and Halemeier. The Santiam post may be the best player on the best team this year, which many consider the very definition of POY. Yet Hurliman has led her team to a road playoff win at Union, followed by two dramatic Pendleton wins to reach the championship game as a district #3 seed. So others may look at what Hurliman has done in context and say, "That's good enough for my vote."

Meanwhile, Nestucca AD and current girls' head coach John Elder (that's not him in the official program photo), has the Bobcats playing at a level not seen since Pendleton 2007. That raises a tantalizing question: Can a coach earn 2A COY with a 4-0 record? Of course not. But what about 5-0?