‘Tis the season for buzzer beaters, even those of the intensely unlikely variety. Case in point: The game-winner you see below, from a pitched Utah faceoff between Kaysville (Utah) Davis High and East Holladay (Utah) Olympus High.
With just seconds remaining in the game, Davis and Olympus were tied, with Olympus holding the game for a final shot. Eventually, with the final seconds ticking away, an Olympus perimeter player started to turn the corner on the right side of the court in an attempt to cut in to the lane.
That’s when it happened; Davis star Braden Koelliker stepped in and stole the ball, then sent up a desperate pass to teammate Abel Porter. Porter had just enough time to catch and release a bomb of a shot from behind half court.
The result? Nothing but net, and a 46-43 Davis win.
The game-winning trey sent the Davis stands into delirium, with fans rushing the court as if the school had just won a national title. Or at least a state title. The impromptu on-court celebration ensnared a pair of Olympus players who were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time (they eventually escaped) and finally tailed off in happy hugs and a cameraman who must have been wondering if he was shooting a high school basketball game or a rave (seriously, check out the bright orange vest and the remarkable proportion of neon garments).
To their credit, that buzzer beater stands out as one of the most remarkable of the 2012-13 season so far. It’s early enough that both teams can build off the game, with Olympus taking plenty out of an early season battle and Davis hoping to harness the ebullience that overflowed following Porter’s game winner.
Either way, both sides will have plenty to remember from one holiday buzzer beater.
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