Hottest ticket in town, Weiser versus Fruitland, boys basketball

  I don't know of a hotter ticket in town than one to the boys basketball game when Weiser plays Fruitland. It was a packed house on Saturday, January 21 in the Weiser gym and I do mean packed. The crowd was a bit hostile to boot and emotions were running high. Do you think this game means anything? What a foolish question. It means everything!
  The night began with a thrilling game by the frosh/soph team. Weiser trailed at the end of the first quarter 12-10 but built a lead over the next three quarters, 27-23, 41-28 and the final 49-42. Weiser tried to give the game away but thankfully, the lead was big enough to prevent that from happening. The JV game was just as intense. Weiser actually had the lead at the end of the first 9-8 and also built that lead thusly: 21-18 at the half, 38-32 end of the third and the final, Weiser 52, Fruitland 43.
  There were times in the varsity game when it looked a lot like a football game. Players were diving for the ball, crashing into each other, and generally shoving and posturing. The game went into overtime even due largely to Fruitland's James Livingston who nailed 4 three's in a row in the fourth quarter to keep his team in the game. He would sink a three and a two in the OT as well but Weiser had just enough gas left in the tank and the steady heads to win the game 59-57.
  Starters for the game were Drew McKie, Elias Daniels, Justin Roberts, Tyler Hemphill and Issac Zanelli. Fruitland scored first as Weiser hit a drought. A little over two and a half minutes into the game, Daniels passed to Roberts for the hook shot. McKie had a CHECK on defense. This was a prelude for the entire game as Weiser checked many, many of the Fruitland player's would be shots. McKie drove the lane for two. McKie had another check. He was also fouled making one shot. (Weiser missed quite a few free throws this night).
  McKie was at the top of the key looking for an open man to pass to. No one was open and the defense sagged in a bit so Drew just hit the jumper to put Weiser up 7-6 at 2:40. McKie had a rejection and then a third check. Holy Cow! Hemphill made a bucket, drew the foul and drained the free throw with 3.6 seconds on the clock. Weiser had the slim lead 10-7 at the end of the first quarter.
  Daniels putback the "O" rebound, drew the foul and sank the free throw in the top of the second quarter. Roberts hit the turnaround jumper for two, 15-10 at 6:02. McKie putback his own "O" rebound while falling backwards. On the fastbreak, the half court pass to Daniels going full speed was good for the lay-up. Roberts had a check. Brock Bumgarner had the steal. Daniels was fouled making one count. Daniels putback an "O" rebound, drew the foul and sank the free throw. Weiser's transistion game was stellar.
Daniels putback another rebound, 25-10. McKie made his shot count off the inbound pass. McKie would check the ball on defense once again. McKie to Bumgarner for two just before the halftime buzzer. Weiser 29, Fruitland 16.
  McKie drove for two after Fruitland scored first in the third quarter. Hemphill inbound to Daniels for the 12 foot jumper. Roberts sank a shot, drew the foul and made the free throw, 36-20. Weiser's defense was tenacious but it was costing our boys some fouls at this point. Weiser's lead had dwindled to 36-29. McKie sank two free throws. Garrett Crawford made a huge shot with under a minute to play in the third. McKie sank two more free throws as Weiser had the lead 42-33 going into the fourth quarter.
  Hemphill was fouled making both shots count. Thankfully, Fruitland was making only one of their free throws out of every two as both teams were in bonus. McKie made one free throw but the game was nearly tied 45-44 due to Livingston's threes. Roberts putback an "O" rebound, 47-44. At 2:00 minutes, Livingston hit that fourth three to tie the game 47-47. Daniels made a free throw. Fruitland made a basket to take the lead. McKie made a free throw to tie it up at 1:15, 49-49. Fruitland sank a free throw to go up one. McKie bettered that with the drive for two. McKie made one free throw. With 19 seconds to go in the game, Livingston made a lay-up to knot the score 52-52. Weiser called time-out. A jump ball with 4.4 seconds gave the ball to Fruitland. McKie had the rejection on the attempted shot for the win sending the teams into overtime. That was HUGE!
  Weiser won the tip in overtime but failed to score. Fruitland sank a three. McKie hit a bucket 55-54 Fruitland. McKie hit the jumper in the key to put Weiser ahead 56-55. Roberts made one free throw at 29.2 seconds. The score showed Weiser 57, Fruitland 55. Fruitland tied the game. McKie was fouled with 11 seconds to go. Both free throws sailed through the net. Whew! Fruitland had a chance and took the shot with the ball clanging off the rim and guess who claimed the rebound? Drew McKie. It is only fitting. Talk about emotions showing. What a fantastic game and a much deserved win. Final: Weiser 59, Fruitland 57.
  Scoring: McKie 26, Daniels 14, Roberts 10, Hemphill 5, Bumgarner and Crawford 2 each.