Samsons fall to Finlandia on shot with 2.6 seconds left

IRONWOOD - Gogebic's shot to tie bounced around multiple times before falling. Finlandia's shot to win was far more improbable.

Finlandia's Tyler Koski got to the basket and made the game-winner with 2.6 seconds left to give the Lions an 81-79 victory Wednesday in a fantastic game between U.P. college teams.

"Tough to lose that way, but at the same time, good effort by the guys," Gogebic Community College coach Dennis Mackey said. "They never quit."

There were often three All-U.P. Dream Team players on the floor together -GCC's Adam Mackey (Ironwood) and Finlandia's Brandon Robinette (Escanaba) and Jordan LaPlant (Ewen-Trout Creek). Mackey led all scorers with 26 points, Robinette had 18 and LaPlant, an All-Region selection at GCC the past two years, scored 14.

Mackey made some big plays down the stretch but none bigger than his 3 that tied the game at 79-79 with about 10 seconds left.

It bounced around seemingly forever before falling through the hoop and bringing the good-sized crowd at the Lindquist Center alive.

"It got the shooter's roll I guess," coach Mackey said. "It has a lot to do with the situation, where he's shooting from. It was front iron, off the glass, and bouncing and bouncing and bouncing and it fell in. It was big for us."

Finlandia crossed halfcourt and called timeout with 7.5 seconds left, setting up Koski's game-winner. Gogebic called timeout, but Miller's desperation 3 was wide left.

Finlandia coach Mike O'Donnell said the Lions just wanted to get something going to the basket.

"We knew we were in the double bonus, so maybe get a foul," he said. "Tyler just made a great play to get the shot on the rim and it rolled in for him."

It went in. Somehow.

"I'm not sure how the ball went in. Koski made a good play," coach Mackey said. "I think he was under the basket. He hit the bottom of the basket and it spun around; it must have had some spin on it. I was shocked it went in.

"It's one of those things, guy made a great play, give him credit. He spun it up there, got the rotation on the ball and spun it in the basket. One of those things, we couldn't let him get that deep. That was our Achilles' in the second half."

The Samsons 39-35 led at halftime before Finlandia took over, building the lead as big as 67-56 with under seven minutes left.

"I thought we started moving the ball better and getting higher quality shots," O'Donnell said. "I thought we settled sometimes early. Once we started attacking the basket, we were able to draw some fouls, get to the free throw line and things just seemed to open up for us more when we started attacking the basket."

Finlandia shot 17 of 24 from the free throw line, including 13 of 17 in the second half. GCC only got to the line five times, making one.

The Samsons had a surge of their own, almost completing the comeback.

After trailing 71-63 with 4:34 left, Gogebic pulled within 77-76 on a Michael Harris fadeaway with 48.6 seconds left.

Gogebic's Collin Miller picked up a steal as Finlandia went downcourt, but Bryant Rowe's 3 rimmed out. Koski made a pair of free throws to put Finlandia up 79-76 with 22.3 seconds left.

That's when Mackey followed with the tying triple before Koski made the game-winner.

"Finlandia plays a four-year schedule," coach Mackey said. "Maybe their record isn't what they'd like it to be, but they're playing four-year schools every night and they're seasoned in these types of games. Hopefully we can learn from this and learn to finish the game and make one more play. Although I can't be disappointed the way we came back at the end, stayed with it, lost our point guard and came in with a makeshift lineup. I thought Harris, Adam and Collin all did a great job, they took turns handling the ball down the stretch. They all made plays."

LaDell Hickman scored 16 points for Gogebic before fouling out with more than four minutes left. Miller had 15 and Harris scored 11.

With all the Dream Teamers on the court, Mackey shined. He was 4 of 4 from behind the arc in the first half and got on a roll again down the stretch.

"He's a competitor and he's going to give it his all. He was fired up to play tonight. He was fired up to play Finlandia," his coach and father said.

LaPlant also led Finlandia with nine rebounds.

"It was fun to see a former player play against us, a little frustrating when he gets the win," Mackey said. "Jordan's a good player and he did a great job tonight."

GCC (10-9) plays UW-Fox Valley at the Marshfield Classic Friday at 6 p.m.

Finlandia - Sean Appling-Daniels 2, Tyler Koski 15, Brandon Robinson 2, Andrew Johnson 6, Jordan LaPlant 14, Marcus Geralds 10, Schwartzen Jarmond 12, Brandon Robinette 18. FTs: 17-24. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None. 3-pointers: Jarmond 4, Robinette 2, Koski 1, LaPlant 1.

Gogebic - LaDell Hickman 16, Michael Harris 11, Adam Mackey 26, Collin Miller 15, Bryant Rowe 2, Tarius Hagood 2, Brandon Cooper 7. FTs: 1-5. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Hickman. 3-pointers: Mackey 6, Hickman 4, Harris 1, Miller 1.

Half: GCC 39-35.