BADGERS NIGHT OF DESTINY
by Kevin White

Badgers Dramatic Victory

Snow vs SLCC Video Game Winning Shot Flash
Snow vs SLCC Basketball Dramatic Final Second Win MP3

EPHRAIM – It was a night of destiny at the Snow College Gymnasium. Maybe it was the fired up crowd, maybe it was the new black uniforms, maybe it was simply a matter of some shots that finally started to fall. In the end it was a 75-foot bomb at the buzzer by Sophomore Ryan Brimley that sent the Badgers into frenzy with a dramatic 67-66 victory.

Trailing 50-37 with just over eight minutes remaining it appeared the Badgers were headed to a fifth-straight loss and back to back home losses to rival Salt Lake Community College. Friday night the Bruins showed why they are the sixth ranked team in the country by dominating the Badgers and holding them to 4-21 from 3-point range en route to a 75-62 win.

“If we can just hit some shots,” said Coach Michael Ostlund before Saturday’s game. “We outrebounded them and were even in turnovers but just couldn’t hit any shots. If we can knock a couple down we can be there with a chance at the end.”

Ostlund proved prophetic as the Badgers connected on 12-27 threes on Saturday including Brimley’s improbable finish.

The comeback started with Freshman Melvin Haynes hitting a couple of three’s, then Freshman Cameron Evans knocked one down and when Brimley canned his third trey of the night the Badgers had clawed their way back to a 64-64 tie with nine seconds remaining.

Salt Lake point guard Dathan Lyles took the ball the length of the court and was fouled going to the basket in a similar play the Badgers were whistled for an offensive foul two weeks ago against College of Eastern Utah. This time the call again went against the Badgers and Lyles sank both free throws setting up Brimley’s final dramatic launch.

“That kid deserved that,” said an ecstatic Ostlund of his sophomore guard. “Our kids play so hard and battled. I thought the comeback really showed our character.  If you tell me we would only commit 20 turnovers in two games against that team I would have told you you were crazy. That shows how much we are starting to mature. I couldn’t be prouder of a bunch of young men.”

The win moves the Badgers to 2-5 in the Scenic West Athletic Conference (SWAC) and 15-7 overall and in reality gets the Badgers back into the conference race.

Haynes led the Badgers with 18 points and four rebounds. Brimley finished with 16 points and four boards. Sophomore point guard Donnie Lao played an excellent all-around game finishing with 12 points and six assists.

The Badgers now head on the road for two games at Colorado Northwest Community College Friday and Saturday night in Rangely. They return to Ephraim on February 13-14 for two games against the College of Southern Idaho.