Vikings pull out last-second win over Eagles

Craig Moore

Leader Staff

PABLO — Here's the scenario: five seconds left and Two Eagle River's Nick Olson is called for traveling. Charlo gets possession of the ball at half-court, Bo Herak inbounds the ball to teammate Joey Ray who dumps the ball back to Herak. Herak pulls up and drains a two-point basket to give the Vikings the 52-50 win at the buzzer.

That's how the Viking victory came about Friday night.

In a game that featured sharp shooting and lots of speed, it was a good old fashioned battle to the end.

Two Eagle got on the scoreboard first and jumped out to the early 5-0 advantage. Charlo's Luke Bauer hit a two pointer at 3:45 in the first quarter to tie the game at 7-7. It was neck and neck during the first quarter, but the Eagles outscored the Vikings 15-13.

Two Eagles' Nick Olson was wide open under the basket at 4:14 in the second and made the easy basket giving the Eagles the 23-17 lead. The Eagles' passing was smooth and seemed to have Charlo on their heels.

Charlo's Trey Sinclair made a two-point basket with less than two minutes left in the half to tie the game at 23. With only eight seconds left, Charlo's Herak hit a three-pointer from about 25 feet to give the Vikings the 28-25 lead at half.

The third quarter was an even eight minutes of play Friday as both teams controlled the ball well and made baskets. At the end of the third Charlo had the 43-39 advantage.

With just under three minutes left in the game, the Eagles' Olson drove the lane and was fouled. He hit both his shots from the line to cut into the Vikings' lead to one point, 49-48.

With 90 seconds left, Olson passed the ball — but directly to Charlo's Joey Ray. The Eagles struggled to regain control of the ball from that point. Charlo's Aaron Young was sent to the line with 29 seconds left. He missed the first free throw but nailed the second to tie the game at 50.

"Both first and second half they popped us in the mouth defensively," said Charlo head coach Tyson Cottet.

With 13 seconds remaining Eagles coach Rod Bird called a time out. But Two Eagles' Olson was called for a travel while bringing the ball down the court for what could have been the game winning last shot.

"We just had to get back to basics, we had to take shots," said Cottet.

But again Herak would step it up, and after inbounding the ball he pulled up and hit a two-pointer at the buzzer.

"We are just trying to gel, this is the second game with all the key players playing together," said Two Eagle head coach Rod Bird.

"We missed some key baskets and had too many turnovers."

With the win Charlo moves to 7-3 overall and 3-1 in conference action. Two Eagle River Eagles drop one game to be 2-7 overall.

Charlo 52, Two Eagle 50

Charlo 13 15 15 9 - 52

Two Eagle 15 10 14 11 - 50

CHARLO: Bo Herak 17, Shea Sammons 4, Charlie Stipe 2, Aaron Young 7, Trey Sinclair 5, Luke Bauer 14, Joey Ray 3.

TWO EAGLE: Nick Olson 18, Gordon Ahenakew 8, Moss Tanner 7, Magnus Harlow 9, Harley BigDay 8.