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These are the games which give coaches any variety of ailments. Insomnia, ulcers, gray hair, vomiting, loss of appetite. These are just a few of the symptoms Live Oak and Biggs girls head basketball coaches Erin Walton and Tim Sheridan experienced following Tuesday nights double-overtime thriller. A game which featured easily 75+ turnovers, horrendous foul shooting, tired legs, inadvertent buzzers and whistles, all of which made for the most exciting finish in my time at The Gridley Herald.
When the final horn had finally sounded after Biggs Maribel Garcia nailed the last basket for two points, the Lady Lions of Live Oak had hung on to win 51-50. The players had just given there all throughout 40 minutes of play, and when the game ended, most every fan in the incredibly loud gym at Biggs High School stood and gave the girls a well-deserved standing ovation. For those in attendance, this is a game which will not soon be forgotten for good and bad reasons.
“I am not going to sleep for days,” said Sheridan, who was forced to endure his teams 42 turnovers, and 5-20 foul shooting. “We definitely didn't play our best game, but we battled back several times, and had opportunities to win. This loss hurts though. It can be the difference of a few play-off spots at the end of the regular season.”
“The intensity of this game nearly killed me,” said Walton. “I was sick already, and then we came out and played like this. It was agonizing. My assistant was throwing up after the game from the stress. The girls have been playing so well, and then tonight I can't believe how poorly we played.”
These two teams are so evenly matched, they could play 10 times and would probably split them evenly. They match-up well against one another with similar styles, and despite the mistakes, both mental and physical, the brand of basketball the teams play is entertaining to watch as long as you are not the one in charge of the team.
The craziness began in the fourth quarter when both teams had opportunities to win the game, the biggest chance coming when Live Oak stole the ball in the Biggs backcourt four consecutive times, yet were unable to convert a single bucket before Biggs finally gained possession and called time out with a minute left and the score knotted at 35.
The play was rough and tumble throughout the night, but after the time out the gloves came off for both teams who threw themselves headlong into battle, sending bodies crashing to the floor throughout the last minute. Neither team could hit a bucket however, and the score stayed locked at 35 heading into overtime.
These are the games which give coaches any variety of ailments. Insomnia, ulcers, gray hair, vomiting, loss of appetite. These are just a few of the symptoms Live Oak and Biggs girls head basketball coaches Erin Walton and Tim Sheridan experienced following Tuesday nights double-overtime thriller. A game which featured easily 75+ turnovers, horrendous foul shooting, tired legs, inadvertent buzzers and whistles, all of which made for the most exciting finish in my time at The Gridley Herald.
When the final horn had finally sounded after Biggs Maribel Garcia nailed the last basket for two points, the Lady Lions of Live Oak had hung on to win 51-50. The players had just given there all throughout 40 minutes of play, and when the game ended, most every fan in the incredibly loud gym at Biggs High School stood and gave the girls a well-deserved standing ovation. For those in attendance, this is a game which will not soon be forgotten for good and bad reasons.
“I am not going to sleep for days,” said Sheridan, who was forced to endure his teams 42 turnovers, and 5-20 foul shooting. “We definitely didn't play our best game, but we battled back several times, and had opportunities to win. This loss hurts though. It can be the difference of a few play-off spots at the end of the regular season.”
“The intensity of this game nearly killed me,” said Walton. “I was sick already, and then we came out and played like this. It was agonizing. My assistant was throwing up after the game from the stress. The girls have been playing so well, and then tonight I can't believe how poorly we played.”
These two teams are so evenly matched, they could play 10 times and would probably split them evenly. They match-up well against one another with similar styles, and despite the mistakes, both mental and physical, the brand of basketball the teams play is entertaining to watch as long as you are not the one in charge of the team.
The craziness began in the fourth quarter when both teams had opportunities to win the game, the biggest chance coming when Live Oak stole the ball in the Biggs backcourt four consecutive times, yet were unable to convert a single bucket before Biggs finally gained possession and called time out with a minute left and the score knotted at 35.
The play was rough and tumble throughout the night, but after the time out the gloves came off for both teams who threw themselves headlong into battle, sending bodies crashing to the floor throughout the last minute. Neither team could hit a bucket however, and the score stayed locked at 35 heading into overtime.
Biggs got on the board quickly in overtime when Garcia nailed a long two from the right wing. Her left foot was just on the line, a lost point which could have changed the games outcome. Live Oak answered right back when Amyah Clark drove hard down the lane and was clobbered for her effort, earning a trip to the free throw line. Clark hit the first, but missed the second, giving Biggs the one-point advantage.
After the two teams exchanged turnovers, the Wolverines missed a couple of close in shots to extend their lead. Live Oak took advantage of their good fortune, finding Heredia on the left block. Heredia hit her patented lefty half-hook to put the Lions on top.
After misses from both sides, Garcia picked off a Live Oak pass, driving to the basket and dishing off to Darci Roles, who converted to put Biggs back on top. Heredia answered right back, converting one of two free throws to tie the score with 1:28 remaining. Amyah Clark, hustling to rebound the second free throw, managed to grab the board, only to have it stripped from her hands by Fatima Castillo. The ball went out of bounds off Castillo, however, giving Live Oak possession under the Biggs basket. Heredia posted up well on the inbounds play, and scored an easy bucket to give the Lions a two point lead 41-39 with 1:21.
After a Biggs turnover, Live Oak appeared to put the game on ice when Anijah Clark, following a Heredia miss, grabbed the offensive rebound, nailing the put-back effort for two points and a foul. Despite missing the free throw, Live Oak lead 43-39 with 50 seconds remaining, and it appeared to be curtains for Biggs.
After Castillo missed two free throws for Biggs, there seemed to be little hope left for the Wolverines. After a pair of jump balls gave possession to Live Oak, Anijah Clark was fouled with 18 seconds left, and the door was closing on the Wolverines hopes.
Not so fast. Since free throw shooting was neither teams strength on this night, it came as no surprise when Clark missed both foul shots, giving Biggs a glimmer of hope. After the second miss, Castillo grabbed the board and immediately called timeout with 18 seconds to play.
Biggs tried for the three following the time out, and Baylee Yuponces' (games leading scorer with 21 points) shot went halfway down before rattling out, bringing a collective groan to the Wolverine faithful. Somehow the ball found its way into the hands of Castillo behind the three-point line, and Castillo launched her shot towards the basket. The shot clanged off the iron, but Castillo was fouled on a bad play by Amyah Clark, who was trying to block the shot. The foul was Clark's fifth, sending her to the bench with five seconds remaining. Clark finished the night with 15 points and 10 rebounds, but would have to see if her teammates could hold on without her.
Castillo, who finished with 12 points, hit the first two of her three free throws, pulling Biggs within two. Castillo, knowing there wasn't time left for much, attempted to carom her third free throw off the front of the rim back towards her, so she might grab the rebound and have a put-back attempt. Castillo was too quick however, crossing the free throw line too early, nullifying the shot, and giving Live Oak the ball underneath their basket with just five seconds.
Earlier in the game, a buzzer had gone off just after the ball had been inbounded following a time out. The buzzer was set to count off one minute during the timeout, but the teams had come back onto the court early, and when the ball had been inbounded and was heading downcourt, the buzzer had gone off, forcing play to be stopped and the clock to be reset and play to be resumed.
After Biggs called a timeout following Castillo's miss, the two teams came out of their huddles and prepared to finish the game. The Wolverines, knowing time was short, lined up to press the Lions in hopes of either stealing the inbounds pass, or fouling immediately following Live Oak getting the ball inbounds.
The ball was handed to the Live Oak inbounder, who searched frantically for an open teammate. Finally, knowing time was short and not wanting to get a five second call, the ball was passed in just as the buzzer went off once again. Nine players froze the moment the buzzer went off. Fortunately for Biggs, Castillo did not. Castillo's attention was only on the ball in the air, and she swooped in and stole the inbounds pass. For a moment everything froze on the court, looking towards the referee to see what to do. The referee motioned play to continue, and said play on as he did so. Castillo immediately drove to the basket, and dished off to a wide open Callie Roles under the basket. Roles calmly banked in the shot before the buzzer, and the roar which went up nearly blasted the roof off the building.
The Biggs players were jumping all over each other like they had won the game, not sending the game to a second overtime. The Live Oak players looked stunned, and Walton was beside herself, meeting the officials at the scorers table looking for an explanation as to why play was allowed to continue.
“That was terrible,” said Walton. “The officiating in crucial times was horrible, but I know I have to keep my wits, or my team will forget to think.”
Walton showed incredible restraint at that moment, because many coaches would have completely lost their minds, myself being one. There was no chance the call was going to be reversed, so Walton gathered her players and focused them on the task at hand.
The second overtime saw fatigue set in for both teams as the exertions used to keep the game going through five quarters seemed to be catching up. Both teams had battled fiercely, and with the physical style of play, the girls will certainly be feeling this game for a few days.
Despite the magnitude of the overtime moment, big plays and outside forces proved pivotal in extending the game to double-overtime. Live Oak post Paulina Heredia was at her best when the action got rough in the fourth quarter and overtime. The referees swallowed their whistles for most of the last half of the contest, and bodies began hitting the floor. In this style of play, Heredia stood out, posting herself on the left block, and nailing 10 of her 14 points, and pulling down nearly half of her game high 16 rebounds in the fourth quarter and overtime.
All of this Heredia accomplished on a severely swollen left knee. Heredia, playing with a brace to protect the injured leg, couldn't run or jump like she wanted to, but she is very strong, and her ability to use her body to create shots and get rebounds for herself proved to be key for Live Oak down the stretch.
“When Amyah fouled out, we definitely wanted to get the ball inside to Paulina,” said Walton. “She is a tough match-up because of her strength, and that left-handed half-hook is tough to stop.”
After Yuponce scored underneath to start the sixth quarter, Garcia missed two free throws for Biggs. Heredia double dribbled after hauling in the rebound, but a tired Castillo settled for a long two which she missed giving Live Oak possession once again. The Lions tried to get the ball inside, but the pass was knocked loose where Heredia came up with the ball in the lane and hit a quick shot out of the scramble to knot the score.
After Roles missed, Live Oak got the ball into Heredia on the block, and Heredia threw in another hook over her shoulder to give the Lions the lead by four 49-45. Biggs wasn't finished though. Castillo drained a three to pull the Wolverines within one.
With the score standing 49-48 Live Oak, the Lions Anijah Clark hit a runner going across the lane to extend the Lions lead to three with 24 seconds left. Anijah finished with a team-high 17 points, and added 15 boards for Live Oak (7-3). After Yuponces' three rattled in and out, Heredia came down with the rebound for Live Oak with 13 seconds remaining, and Walton called time to make sure her team knew what to expect.
“We shot only 11-38 from the free throw line tonight, which nearly killed us.” said Walton.
Sheridan, seeing his own team struggle with a 5-20 night from the line, made sure his players knew two things: Foul quick, and then look for the three on offense.
“I went over what we needed in the huddle,” said Sheridan. “Unfortunately, Maribel hit her shot, and there was a lot of contact on her shot, but we didn't get a call, so it didn't matter.”
The final four seconds, like the end of the first overtime, seemed a slow-motion blur. Heredia, needing one free throw to ice the game, of course missed both foul shots, and Garcia raced up the floor. However, instead of stopping behind the arc and launching a three point attempt which was needed to tie, Garcia drove into a Live Oak defender hoping to draw a foul call as she shot. The ball whistled cleanly through the net for the score, but like most of the game, there was no whistle. Just the buzzer, which finally ended the game.
Every player was exhausted. The coaches were fried. So were the fans. Some complained of headaches afterwards from screaming so long and so loud. But, when the buzzer sounded, an incredible reaction occurred. Both sides of the gym stood up and began clapping loudly for what they had just witnessed. Maybe they were just clapping for their own players, maybe not. I'm not sure, but I will always believe the crowd was giving the players a standing ovation for the efforts they expended in the game. To me it was a very moving experience, sending a shiver down my spine to see such appreciation shown to the young women who had given their absolute all on the court. My hats off to all those who showed their appreciation for what they were lucky enough to witness, and I thank everyone for sending me into the Christmas holidays with such a wonderful gift. As a fan of sports, it can't get any better.
