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John L. Braese
NYSSA – The Vale boys basketball team only had to make the 20-mile trip to Nyssa for the Vikings to find their first Eastern Oregon League victory, a 72-62 overtime win over the Bulldogs on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
In true Nyssa/Vale fashion, the game had it all. Screaming fans on both sides of the gym. An overtime finish. Three technical fouls including a double technical originally called on a player from each team standing on the other side of the court and not remotely involved in the situation. Once the correct players were named, both teams took to a barrage of perimeter shooting with Vale finally finding the victory as the overtime clock hit zero.
The game started much like it ended in regulation. After the first quarter was in the books, Vale and Nyssa each showed nine points on the board. The Vikings were able to walk into the locker room at the half with a 28-24 margin.
While the Vikings put up 14 points each in the third and fourth quarters, Nyssa was forced to play from behind after a 12-point third quarter. Exploding in the final eight minutes for 20 points, the Vikings and Bulldogs stood tied at 56 with four quarters played.
Led by former Bulldog turned Viking sophomore Kellen Hartley scoring seven of his 12 total points in overtime, Vale outscored Nyssa 16 to 6 in the four-minute overtime period for the win.
Vale freshman Cal Johnson led all scorers in the game with 24 points. Junior Canon Hiatt added 17 points followed by Hartley’s 12 points.
Nyssa junior Tony Gomeza found the mark from the perimeter, connecting on five three-pointers for 15 of his team high 19 points. Ike Walker added 17 points for the Bulldogs and Kingston Bias ended with nine points.
Vale ended the evening’s action shooting 64 percent from the free throw line while Nyssa shot 60 percent from the line.
