Craziest Canadian college basketball finish ever? Holland Hurricanes sink two 3-pointers in final 10 seconds to win playoff game [VIDEO]
When you get a team that was ice-cold from outside sinking two three-pointers in three seconds to win an elimination game, accompanied by a pair of Maritime-accented equivalents to Gus Johnson losing their minds in a tiny, teeming gym, that's the human drama of athletic competition at its finest.
The Holland College (P.E.I.) Hurricanes' dream season has culminated in their first trip to the Canadian College Athletics Association championship, but it nearly slipped away from their in their first playoff game before they channeled their inner Reggie Miller during winning time. In the ACAA semifinal, the Hurricanes were down five points with a dozen seconds left against the Mount Saint Vincent University (N.S.) Mystics. They had been serving up sno-cones from three-point land, hitting just 2-of-23, and they needed to make at least one triple to just to prolong the game.
Then it happened. Off a kick-out from Steve Ethelson, Holland guard Alvin Parker banked in a long, contested three with about 10 seconds to play. The Mystics threw the ball in and Holland's Leo Morris tipped the pass and battled the ball toward Steve Hardy while tumbling into the bleachers. Hardy's rattled-in three-pointer, combined with a defensive stop, gave Holland an improbable comeback 58-57 win that extended its season.
Here is hoping the vocal cords of commentators Randy Corey and Justin Marshall have recovered (if not, tea with honey works wonders). The best part is how their excitement is visible in the camera shot.
The only Holland starter not involved in the remarkable sequence was their centre, Chase Bowden. Then again, between getting 36 points and 33 rebounds during the two-game ACAA tournament and posting the above video, he's done quit a bit.
What makes it even sweeter is that Holland had never won a league championship. The Hurricanes are a relatively new member of the league, but under coach George Morrison, they've come closer and closer each year. Terms such as team of destiny are used way too loosely in sports, but here it fits. Holland's 70-61 win in the conference final over tourney host St. Thomas was obviously bigger, but it never happens without that late-game brilliance.
Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet. Please address any questions, comments or concerns to btnblog@yahoo.ca (video: Chase Bowden).