Vikings win thriller in triple overtime

BOUNTIFUL — Long after the euphoria settled from Viewmont's 86-85 victory over No. 1 Fremont on Friday, an exhausted Chris Romney made a slow stroll through the gym on his way to the parking lot.

Along the way, he bumped into Fremont coach Bernie Graziano, who couldn't help asking Romney if he was fouled on his 3-pointer at the end of regulation.

A little dumbfounded by the whole night, the first phrase out of Romney's mouth was, "uhhhhh." That was exactly what Graziano thought.

With 4.2 seconds left in regulation, Romney took the inbound pass and raced up court, launching a 3-pointer just before the buzzer. His shot came up inches short, but the referee whistled Austin Beus for a seemingly phantom foul.

Romney made 2-of-3 free throws to send the game into overtime.

"You hardly ever see an official decide it with .2 seconds remaining," said Graziano. "I usually don't say that, but it was clear cut, there was no foul."

Nonetheless, Graziano said it was still the best basketball game of the year so far. None of it would've been possible without Beus' foul — his fifth of the game.

Without the OTs, Fremont's Ryan Sanchez would've never had a chance to avenge five missed foul shots early in the game by sinking a pair in the final seconds of double overtime.

More importantly for Viewmont, Sol Jensen would've never had a chance to be the hero by making two free throws with 3.7 seconds remaining in triple overtime.

"That was a heck of a game," said Viewmont coach Jeff Emery, who said it was the second-best game he's been a part of in his 18 years in basketball — second only to a state championship. "It was a war of attrition at the end."

In the third overtime, with Viewmont leading 84-82, Fremont's Austin Raught was fouled by Romney — his fifth — and proceeded to bury both free throws to tie the game. Following a Viewmont turnover, Raught was fouled again, but this time only made 1-of-2.

That would prove to be the difference as Jensen buried both free throws to clinch the victory, and the Vikings' 2-0 start in league play.

"I was nervous on the first one, but I knew the second one was going in," said Jensen.

The Weber State signee made 12-of-14 free throws on the night and finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds.

"That gets us a really good start in region, and gets our confidence going," said Jensen.

The game probably should've never gone into overtime in the first place. Romney's 3-pointer to open the game gave Viewmont a lead it didn't relinquish until Beus put Fremont ahead 64-62 with 4.2 seconds remaining in regulation.

"We just finally found a way to come out on top, with a little bit of luck and a lot of guts," said Emery.

Romney finished with 22 points, while Fremont had four players in double figures, led by Beus' 20 points.

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com