Ward's Buzzer Shot Brings Mustangs 55-52 Victory

There was not a quiet seat in the  Friday evening as the Mineola boys varsity basketball team beat the Island Trees Bulldogs 55-52.

Hero: Island Trees tied the game in the fourth quarter with just a minute left to go. The crowd rose to its feet as the teams ran from one end of the court to the other, both taking shots that didn't go in. With six seconds left, the score stayed tied 52-52. Just when it seemed the game was headed into overtime, Tom Ward made a game-winning three-point basket at the buzzer, adding three points to his already impressive 11, for a total of 14.

Scorers: In addition to Ward's 14 points, James Bulva scored an impressive 11 and Mike Wasychuk was close behind with nine. Brian Gaffney added six to the board, Thomas Breslin and Matt Moro each scored five points each and Malcolm Brown scored three.

Turning Points: Although Island Trees had the first 9 points of the game, Mineola fought back hard. Trailing in the first quarter, the second quarter brought the Mustangs 14 more points, tying the game at 28-28. With a strong offense and an even stronger defense, the Mustangs were able to hold the Bulldogs to only 9 points this quarter, while they scored an impressive 19. Even though the Bulldogs tied in the fourth quarter, Mineola still held onto its lead, winning the game 55-52.

“We knew Tommy Ward was hitting all his three-pointers during practice yesterday,” said Bulva. “The last couple of seconds, [the team] knew he would be the one to pass to.”

Bottom Line: The Mustangs have a very strong offense and defense. Their ability to hit three-pointers makes them a force to be reckoned with. Each player knows exactly who to pass it to and when, making the chances of scoring that much higher.

Check out the video to the right to see Tom Ward make the winning 3 point basket.

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