MICHIGAN CITY | Harlem Shake? Check. Storming the court after an upset victory? Check.
Michigan City's students took part in both of the latest and coolest trends in the basketball world Friday night, as the Wolves upset Times No. 2 Valparaiso 48-45 in overtime in the regular-season finale for both teams.
M.C. junior Donovan Wilson willed the Wolves to the victory on Senior Night, scoring 15 points, including all seven that the Wolves scored in the extra period. He had a steal and a breakaway dunk with four seconds remaining to account for the final margin after Valpo had set up a potential game-winning play while trailing by one.
"The play before they ran that same out-of-bounds play," Wilson said. "They just didn't finish it. But watching the film, the end of the play ends at the elbow to (John) Mosser.
"I left my spot to come take a gamble. Thankfully I got my hand on the ball and turned it into a dunk."
Wilson was 7-for-7 from the field with four assists and two steals.
Valpo (16-4), which had won four in a row coming in, led 24-19 at the break. Mosser scored nine of his team-high 15 points in the third quarter, but he struggled the rest of the way as did his teammates.
The Vikings shot just 17-of-45 overall (37.7 percent), including 6-of-20 from 3-point range. And they committed three turnovers in the overtime after Mosser had given his team a 43-41 lead.
"The biggest thing is we had plenty of good shots," Valpo coach Joe Otis said. "We just didn't take care of the ball.
"I think it was their quickness. We had the two-point lead with the ball and we turned it over."
The Wolves trailed 36-34 heading into the fourth quarter, but Wilson tied it up on a breakaway after a steal by Ryan Taylor.
City took its first lead since early in the game on a 3-pointer by Taylor for a 39-36 advantage with 6:05 remaining. Valpo tied it up on a Justin Osburn 3-pointer with 5:05 to play.
Quentin Palmer hit a pair of free throws with 2:08 remaining to make it 41-41, after M.C. had taken a lead on a bucket by Lacy Johnson.
In the final two minutes, both teams missed opportunities to take the lead. After several timeouts down the stretch, M.C. had the last possession but couldn't get off a shot in time. Taylor actually drained a 15-footer after the buzzer sounded.
Then in the overtime, it was all Wilson as the Vikings' offensive woes continued.
Zach Meyer was the only other Valpo player to reach double figures with 10 points to go along with four steals. Taylor finished with 10 points for the Wolves (9-11, 5-8 DAC), while Keenan Simmons had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
"From a philosophical standpoint you want this now - not next week," Otis said. "We can't rest on our laurels."
Valpo opens the Michigan City Sectional against Portage on Tuesday while the Wolves take on Crown Point on Wednesday.
"This is a big confidence booster," Wilson said. We've been going through trials and tribulations the whole season with injuries and illness. This is the first time we've been healthy as a team. We think we can turn some heads in the sectional."
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