With 5 seconds left in the game, Joe Harward’s free throw gave Bellingham boys basketball a 79-78 lead over Meridian. Trojans’ coach Shane Stacy called a timeout to call a play for Talon Jenkins to cut to the hoop and score a layup.
However, Meridian’s Trey Alexander noticed Jenkins was double-teamed, cut down the lane, received the pass and floated the ball into the hoop for the buzzer-beater to give the Trojans an 80-79 victory in their regular-season finale Friday, Feb. 7 at home.
“It was a great feeling,” Alexander said. “I was looking back to get on defense but I looked up and saw the buzzer go off, and it was a great feeling to have everyone rush the court and to be the center of it.”
Gallery: Meridian beats Bellingham on last-second shot
The game-winning floater was one of Alexander’s two baskets of the game, finishing with six points from a pair of free throws. Jenkins led with a game-high 35 points along with two rebounds, two assists and five steals.
When Bellingham led 73-62 with three minutes left in the game, Jenkins nailed three 3-pointers, Jaeger Fyfe connected on a layup and Alexander made the game-tying basket with 15 seconds left.
“We never give up,” Alexander said. “We are big on everyone giving their full effort.”
Harward kept the Bayhawks above the Trojans throughout most of the fourth quarter by drawing fouls and making free throws. Harvard finished with 26 points and seven rebounds while Kincaide Vanhouten led with a team-high 28 points to go with four rebounds and four assists.
Before the hectic final minutes, Bellingham and Meridian had a close, physical battle. In the first quarter, Meridian took a 23-16 lead as Jenkins and Fyfe combined for 17 points. However, Vanhouten picked up three assists on three 3-point shots between Gabriel Van Hofwegen and Harmon Wienkers.
Meridian kept a 41-37 lead going into halftime with a handful of layups from James Hedahl. Bellingham took its first lead halfway through the third quarter when Vanhouten made a layup and free throw.
The Bayhawks held the lead throughout the latter half of the game until the Trojans’ game-winning shot.
Meridian finished the regular season with a 14-6 record. They will host Nooksack Valley in the first round of the 1A District 1 playoffs at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Bellingham (8-12) will either play on Tuesday, Feb. 11, or Thursday, Feb. 13 depending on their seeding in the 2A District 1 playoffs.
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
