Dan Falloon
The Muskie senior boys’ basketball team shouldn’t have any trouble remembering the Trojans.
But that’s not to say the Trojans won’t have some fleeting memories of the black-and-gold, as well.
Sir Winston Churchill (Thunder Bay) emerged with a thrilling 2-1 victory in the best-of-three NWOSSAA final here, including a controversial 50-49 win in the deciding Game 3 on Saturday afternoon.
Trailing 48-46, Josh Strain hit a basket and picked up a foul shot on the play—which he made—to give the Muskies a 49-48 lead with seven seconds to go.
Churchill then charged up the court and were faced with an in-bound play with 1.5 seconds left.
The buzzer sounded before the Trojans could get a shot off and the Muskies celebrated, but a foul was called against Fort High.
Tim Baxter then sunk both foul shots with no time on the clock—deflating Fort High’s hopes of a trip to the all-Ontarios.
The loss was especially stinging for the Muskies, who brimmed with confidence early en route to grabbing a 25-14 lead at the half.
But the Trojans stormed back in the third, evening things at 36-36 heading into the fourth quarter.
The final frame was the wild west as the teams essentially went point-for-point. For every Trojan score, Justin Anderson or Strain had an answer.
And it had seemed like Strain had driven the final nail in the Trojans’ coffin—until Baxter drained the pair of free throws he needed to sink.
Strain led the Muskies with 16 points in the third-and-deciding game while Anderson tallied 13.
Tim Metke chipped in 10, including a pair of three-pointers.
Brandon Mylata had 20 for the Thunder Bay champs, with Alex Tempelman netting 11 in support.
Strain and Anderson both said the game was the best one that they’d ever been involved in, feeling confident with every shot that they took and—subsequently—made.
“It was actually really fun,” enthused Anderson. “That was a great game.”
The Muskies had taken the opening game on Friday afternoon by a 48-41 score.
But they couldn’t seal the deal in Game 2 on Saturday morning.
The Trojans started off hot, leading 22-11 at the break, before hanging on for a 39-35 win to force Game 3 that afternoon.
With a series win, Fort High would have made its first trip to OFSAA since 2001.
