ELMA — Including overtime, it took 36 minutes to decide a winner in a Jan. 4 boys basketball game between Elma and Hoquiam, and the Eagles needed every second of the clock to pull out a dramatic 59-56 upset victory.
Elma’s boys (1-1, 2-12) appeared to be in position to secure the win in regulation, but an errant pass on an inbounds play allowed Hoquiam’s Dane McMillan to temporarily play the role of hero and hit a game-tying, mid-range jumper to send the game into overtime with the teams deadlocked at 50.
Hoquiam (1-1, 3-9) appeared to have momentum on its side, but when the Grizzly offense stalled in OT, Elma took advantage with some big shots of its own.
Elma’s Cody Vollan helped put the game away with his play at both ends of the floor and contributed five points in the extra period.
Against some tenacious perimeter defense with just over six seconds remaining, Hoquiam’s Victor James nearly tied the game with a late 3-pointer. Elma fans were able breathe a sigh of relief, however, as the shot was offline, allowing the Eagles to secure the rebound and the victory.
Working with a short bench, Elma head coach Jeff Niemi said he was concerned about how his players would respond after the disappointment of allowing the tying bucket in the dying seconds of regulation.
“We had a short bench, but I was confident their energy would be there,” he said. “I worried about the emotional letdown of giving up that lead and I thought they would play hard. They had great composure in that overtime as well.”
Elma wasn’t the only team working with a short bench. Hoquiam had to make some last-minute adjustments to the lineup with three starters serving a two-week suspension.
Despite calling up two players from junior varsity and thrusting other players into the starting lineup, Hoquiam did an admirable job standing up to Elma’s half-court trap.
The Eagles were still disruptive on defense and came away with 12 steals.
Niemi said his team’s new defensive strategy is working well so far.
“We put in that half-court trap last week and it’s been good for us in both of our league games,” he said. “We forced some pretty strong ball-handling teams to be uncomfortable. Our pressure was outstanding and we’re getting better at getting to the loose ball.”
James had a good day driving to the paint and led the team with 16 points.
Hoquiam’s Rayyon Dayton shot 50 percent from the field and contributed 12 points while grabbing six rebounds. But, despite giving away size, Elma outrebounded Hoquiam, 31-22.
Hoquiam head coach Curtis Eccles liked his team’s effort but thought the Grizzlies were unlucky when shots rattled out late in the game.
“It was bad luck. I thought we got some open looks but, unfortunately, they didn’t fall,” he said. “You have to give Elma credit. They rebounded the ball better than we did and they did hit some shots down the stretch that were key to keep that lead.”
Sam Schneider, Carter Jacobson and Micah Swint also scored in double digits and played a big role in Elma’s ability to survive Hoquiam’s scoring runs in the second half.
Schneider also had a career-high nine rebounds.
Both teams will get a little time off before taking the court again next week. Elma took on Montesano on Wednesday, Jan. 10. Results of that game were not available when The Vidette went to press.
Hoquiam 11 15 16 8 6 — 56
Elma 11 14 18 7 9 — 59
Hoquiam (56) — Dayton 12, Larsen 2, Bumstead 3, James 18, Smith 4, Brown 12, Varner, Morales, McMillan 2. FG — 25-58 (.431). FT — 6-7.
Elma (59) — Jacobson 10, Johnston 4, Billerback 4,Vollan 16, Schneider 10, Swint 11, Moore 4, Richey. FG — 22-51 (.431). FT — 10-19.
