By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
COOS BAY, Ore.– There was a lot of pressure on the shoulders of Haley Miersma walking to the line with two seconds left in regulation.
Vale had rallied from a 12-point deficit. The Warriors led 40–28 with 1:23 left in the third quarter and had Amity’s Kelsey Stapleton in foul trouble, the senior having four fouls early in the second half that limited her on the court. Now, after the comeback, the Vikings trailed just 45–44.
Amity knew that this was going to be a battle. It was the same as their first meeting back on January 3 at the Crusader Classic where the Vikings defeated the Warriors 31-27. The physicality was the same, maybe more intensified because of the moment of it being the 3A State Championship Game.
But nonetheless, the two teams went to battle. The Warriors held the slight advantage after one, and led 30-24 at the halftime break. They were building the momentum they were hoping for that paid off during the third quarter.
“Throughout the game, we were having some good runs and they would have some good runs. Throughout the whole first half I felt like we were really close to breaking it open and once we got Stapleton in foul trouble that’s when we really broke through and it really helped out with our confidence,” described Eliza Nisly.
Amity built their lead to 12 with 1:23 left in the third, but that’s when Vale came back. By quarters end, the Warriors led 40-32 and from there, the Vikings clutched up and really did some work on the deficit as they outscored the Warriors 12-5 by the time Miersma walked to the line.
The rally spoke to how much of a well-oiled machine Vale is and has been through the years. Now it was up to the Warriors to hold them off.
“Vale is well coached. Hard nose kids that never give up and maybe we got too conservative too early down the stretch, I don’t know but you got to give them a lot of credit. I’ve watched them down here for years and they are tough as nails,” said Amity Head Coach Jed McMullen.
It was an eerie similarity to last year’s 3A State Championship Game between Amity and Banks as that too came down to the wire. And here was the Warriors, in a similar situation in a similar game . But once again, they were ready for the moment.
And so was Miersma.
“Those free throws…knocking those down was what sealed this. Even if she made that half-court shot, it would’ve been tied. That’s what kept us in the game, those last few free throws,” she said.
The senior made both free throws and the Amity defense clouded up the shooting lane for Vale, who sent off a heave at the buzzer from half-court that missed its mark. Amity walked away victorious: 47-44 to repeat as 3A State Champions on Saturday night at Marshfield High School.
“This team is so special. I can’t even put into words how special of a group it is. I’ve coached them since they were in kindergarten. It’s unreal, I can’t even explain how much fun it’s been. I’m honored and blessed to have the opportunity to coach a group like this. I’m just thankful they let us coaches go along for the ride,” said McMullen.
For this Senior Group, they’re leaving Amity in a good spot as they head off to their future endeavours. The repeat was awesome, but they know too that this won’t be the last time that the Warriors Girls Basketball program will win a State Championship.
“It’s awesome. I came in last year, win it last year. Then I was like, ‘alright cool. Senior Year, I’m going to put my butt into gear and get another win hopefully’ and we just did it,” said Miersma.
“It means everything. It’s such an unreal feeling that I feel so blessed that we’re about to inspire the younger generations, I don’t think this is going to be the last State Championship for the Amity Girls Basketball program. I’m really excited to see the future,” adds Eliza Nisly.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
