Huskies win thriller

Rodney Webster's thoughts were simple in the closing moments of Friday's Central Section Division III quarterfinal against Foothill (Bakersfield). "I knew we needed to have a big play to win," he said.

And Webster delivered, slicing through the lane for the go-ahead basket with a minute and 38 seconds left in regulation, making two key steals to deny the Trojans a game-tying basket, and giving the Huskies a 49-45 victory at the Events Center.

The win lifted Hanford West, the No. 3 seed in the tournament, to 18-11 on the year and a semifinal date at Hoover (Fresno) on Wednesday.

Hoover defeated Yosemite (Oakhurst) 71-43 Friday night. The winner will play for the Central Section title a week from today at Selland Arena.

The Trojans end the season with a 12-17 mark.

"That was a tremendous high school basketball game," said Hanford West coach Tim Caudillo.

Indeed it was, with seven ties and 15 lead changes, with neither team leading by more than four points throughout the night.

"Those guys were definitely not a No. 11 seed," Caudillo said.

Foothill took the lead for the last time on what turned out to be their last basket of the night, a 3-pointer from the right angle by Robert Williams with 4:29 remaining, giving the Trojans a 45-43 advantage.

Hanford West tied it on a Warren Moon basket with 4:07 left, and controlled the ball for four possessions without making a hoop.

Foothill's Shaquille Wilson missed a pair of free throws with 2:02 left, giving Webster his opportunity for the game-winner.

Webster was fouled after Hanford West stopped Foothill's final chance to win the game, with 4.1 seconds left. He missed both free throws, but, fittingly, ended up with the rebound and made a shot with a second left, giving him 18 points on the night.

This one was tight from the beginning, with the Trojans holding a 12-8 lead after the first quarter that Hanford West managed to cut in half, 24-22 at halftime.

The Huskies were powered by Dean Burkett in a back-and-forth third period.

Burkett hit three key 3-point baskets in the stanza as the Huskies took a 41-40 lead by the break.

"Dean came up big for us in the third quarter," Caudillo said.

Burkett ended the night with 15 points, all from 3-point land.

An Eric Smith basket to start the period gave Hanford West a three-point advantage, but the Trojans responded with a basket by Ronnie Churchill and Williams' trey to take a 45-43 lead.

Ethen Carrel was the only other Husky in double figures with 12 points.

Webster also had six rebounds and Carrel five.

Williams led Foothill with 11 points. Wilson had seven rebounds and Conroy Lester six.

(Feb. 28, 2009)