Miracle on West Idaho Avenue
Mejia’s shot propels Tigers to 70-66 overtime victory

By: Ray Rodriguez
Argus Observer
Wednesday, February 4, 2009 10:12 AM PST

Ray Rodriguez | ARGUS OBSERVER Ontario’s Robert Keyes (middle) drives in for a layup in front of Burns’ defenders Christian Lassan (3) and Tyler Fenton during the second half of their nonconference game in Ontario. The Tigers won in overtime, 70-66.

Ontario—On many occasions this year, the Ontario Tigers have been on the wrong end of big comebacks and have been stricken with heartbreaking losses.

Tuesday night, the basketball gods were wearing cardinal and corn.

Josh Mejia drained an off-balanced, double-clutch, game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer, and the Tigers surged with an 11-7 spurt in overtime to defeat Burns 70-66 in nonconference boys basketball action in Ontario.

Maybe all it will take is Tuesday’s miraculous finish to turn the Tigers’ season around .

At least that is what Ontario head coach Scott Helmick is hoping for.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We have had several games where we have battled tough teams and come up short. Tonight, everything just fell for us,” Helmick said. “It was nice to get this win, especially after the loss we had against them at the beginning of the season.”

At one point, the Tigers were down by as much as 40-28 with six minutes left in the third quarter, when they began to show some life.

Jordan Lang jump-started the comeback with back-to-back baskets, and Dan Heninger followed with a rebound and a putback to draw Ontario to within a 40-33 deficit with 4:42 left in the third.

Tad Anzaldua followed with a 3-pointer, and Robert Keyes capped the 10-0 run with a layup, and Ontario was down 40-38 with 3:46 left.

Both teams traded baskets down the stretch, but the Tigers were still down 46-44 entering the final stanza.

The fourth quarter was a see-saw battle with each team trading point-for-point.

With 2:25 left in the fourth, and the Tigers down 53-52, Mejia and Anzaldua scored back-to-back baskets to give Ontario a 56-53 lead.

Over the next minute, Ontario had its chances to seal the win, but two turnovers gave Burns possession.

With 34.7 seconds left, Burns nailed a jumper to make the score 56-55, and after another Tiger turnover, Burns’ Dylan Thompson connected on a jumper to give his team the 57-56 lead.

With six seconds left in regulation, Caleb Feist gave the Hilanders a 59-56 lead with two free throws. After a timeout, Mejia drove coast-to-coast and unleashed his miracle basket at the buzzer.

In the waning moments of overtime, Mejia made two free throws, and Anzaldua added another to break open a slim 67-66 lead.

Mejia finished with 19 points, Anzaldua added 18, and Lang added 11 points for the Tigers.

Feist led Burns with 26 points, and Thompson chipped in with 13 points.