Last second three lifts Harrison over Granite

BUTTE – From the opening tip-off to the final seconds, it was a game that seemed destined to be decided by the last shot.

It was Harrison-Willow Creek that got that last try and made the best of it in a dramatic 36-33 over Granite Friday night in the semifinals of the Boys District 12C Tournament.

Granite was leading 33-32 10 seconds to play and the Wildcats with the ball. When it came in bounds, Harrison’s Sage Buss unloaded a 25-foot shot that fell through the bottom of the net with three seconds to play to give Harrison the lead. He would add a free throw to reach the game’s final tally.

GHS Head Coach Dustin Keltner didn’t comment after the game, but he was overhead to say, “Sometimes bad things happen.”

Granite had lost to Harrison on two previous occasions this year, the first by 20 and the second by seven. Friday night would have been vindication and a chance to advance to the Divisional Tournament next week. Sadly for the Prospectors, the loss dashed that chance and sent them into the Consolation Bracket semifinals.

Brian Ward led Granite with 11 points while Kade Cutler and Andrew Tallon each added seven.

SCORING

GRANITE – 9/8/5/11 – 33

HARRISON-WC – 7/8/8/13 – 36

Granite – Cutler 7, PMetesh 4, Ward 11, Brabender 4, Tallon 7

Harrison-WC – Contreras 9, LCima 5, Nye 6, VHomner 7, KHomner 3, Buss 6