Boys pull off victory in last quarter, 46-44 over Fruitland

  Six tough teams met on Wednesday, February 8 in Fruitland for a little game we call basketball. The frosh/soph team continues to be undefeated downing Fruitland 42-25. The JV game was close with Fruitland having a stong fourth quarter to win 60-54. The varsity game was fast paced and frought with turnovers and missed shots. Weiser never had the lead until 20 seconds left in the third quarter  but that was negated early in the fourth. Superior defense and some incredible plays by one crafty guard, Tyler Hemphill and monster blocks by the big man, Drew McKie helped Weiser hold on to win 46-44.
  Starters for Weiser were McKie, Hemphill, Issac Zanelli, Elias Daniels and Justin Roberts. There were many missed shots early and Fruitland had a knack for picking Weiser's pockets in the first half. Fruitland would score first on the third trip down the court. McKie on the fast break with a pass about 90% of the way down the court to Hemphill for the pullup jumper. Hemphill had a steal. McKie to Roberts for two, 5-4 Fruitland. McKie had a monstor rejection on defense. McKie inside for two. Brock Bumgarner with a good move sank the bucket, 13-8 Fruitland. McKie knocked down the THREE! Thirty seconds later, McKie sank his second THREE from the same spot. At the end of the first, Fruitland led 17-14.
  On a side note, Weiser was in a bit of foul trouble sending Fruitland to the line. Fruitland couldn't buy a free throw in this game. Zanelli to McKie for the long two at 5:28 in the second quarter, 21-16 Fruitland. Bumgarner sank the shot off a tipped pass. Bumgarner made a free throw. McKie with the offensive rebound putback. Fruitland would head into the locker room at halftime with a 26-21 lead over Weiser.
  Fruitland hit back to back shots in the top of the third quarter. McKie fired the pass to Roberts for the easy two. McKie pulled down the defensive rebound and on the fastbreak hit Daniels with the lead pass for the lay-up. McKie hit a bucket. McKie with the "D" rebound outlet pass to Zanelli this time for the lay-up. The clock showed 5:15 with Weiser trailing by a point 30-29. Hemphill to Roberts on the left wing for the shot. Roberts made one free throw. Zanelli over the top for two, 35-34 Fruitland at 2:57. Hemphill stole the ball. Weiser had a shot miss but Hemphill went horizontal with the court to retrieve the rebound, landed on his side and kept on dribbling the ball, gained his feet and made it out of the key. Awesome!  Daniels hit the shot that put Weiser ahead for the first time from the top of the key thanks to that great hustle by Hemphill. With eight long minutes to play, Weiser led 36-35.
  Fruitland scored thrice in the beginning of the fourth to reclaim the lead. Zanelli had the steal and hit the jumper from the top of the key. At 3:40, Roberts drew two defenders in the key so passed outside to Bumgarner for the unguarded shot, 41-40 Fruitland. McKie with the no look pass to Bumgarner for the hoop, 42-41 Weiser.
  This next play was a brilliant play and one I personally have never seen in all the years I have watched or played basketball. The clock stood at 2:33 with the teams tied 42-42. Hemphill had the ball out of bounds under the Weiser basket. The Fruitland defender turned his back to Tyler so Tyler bounced the ball off that player's back, caught the ball inside the key and banked the shot home. Fruitland tied the game at 1:19.
  With 39 seconds to go, Daniels was inside the Weiser key surrounded by defenders. He passed outside to Zanelli for the soft jumper, 46-44 Weiser. Fruitland called time-out. They took three shots that missed and on the last shot, Bumgarner came down with the ball and was fouled but there weren't enough team fouls to put us on the line for free throws. With 4.7 seconds to go, Weiser was fouled and the one and one shot missed. Fruitland had the rebound and called time-out. Weiser called time-out. Fruitland's James Livingston, the man who hits the three's with ease brought the ball down the court zigzagging through Weiser defenders. He drove the key and tried to alley-oop the ball in but McKie was having none of that and blocked the shot cleanly. Weiser had the victory 46-44 and can claim out right first place in District even with one game to go.
  Scoring: McKie 14, Bumgarner 9, Zanelli 8, Roberts 7, Hemphill and Daniels 4 each. By the way, McKie, Bumgarner and Zanelli were just three of the players from the seventh and eighth grade A-team that won SRV in back to back years.