FANTASTIC FINISH! Norse Close Season With Win

ESCANABA---Of course it had to come down to the very last second.

The Bay College Norse men's basketball team did nothing the easy way this season, and on Saturday, they rallied in the final two minutes to beat Gogebic Community College, 81-79, at the Northern Lights YMCA Gym. The Norse finished with a 21-9 season record.

Dre Tuominen, who struggled with his shot most of the night, came alive at the end and the Norse got big games from Kobi Barnes and Tyler Willette inside the paint.

The Norse got revenge for a gutwrenching triple overtime loss to the Samsons earlier this season in Ironwood.

In that game, Trevor Cook was one of the villains, making a huge triple to force overtime.

And Cook stepped up big again down the stretch for the Samsons, draining a big three with less than two minutes left, one of five triples and 21 points in the game. Garfield Voker was hard to stop all night long for the Bay defense, making eight of his first ten field goals, and from all over the court.

Voker scored 23 points for Gogebic, but when ge fouled out late in the game, it was a big break for the Norse comeback effort.

Bay never trailed by much, but seemingly every time the Norse got a basket or two, the Samsons would answer. Until Tuominen took over down the stretch.

Trailing by three, Barnes missed the second of two foul shots, but Tuominen got the rebound, put-back, and the "and-one".

After Cook nailed a triple to restore the Samson lead to four, and it looked like Gogebic might put the game away after the Norse turned the ball over.

But Dachau Lyle missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Tuominen took it from one end of the court to the other for a basket, and another foul, with 40 seconds to play. That basket and free throw cut it to one, and then at half court, Barnes and Marcus McKenney worked a double team nicely and got the steal, leading Tuominen up court. He was fouled, went to the line, and made both foul shots, to give Bay an 80-79 lead.

The Samsons came up court with a chance to win, but Denver Sharrow's baseline drive was rejected by Barnes and Tuominen was fouled with four seconds to play. He split the free throws, and Michael Hill's long jumper missed at the buzzer for Gogebic.

The wild finish ended a wild season for the Norse, which started with two overtime losses and a two-point regulation loss, and included everything from scoreboard malfunctions in the Keweenaw to being stranded four hours on a broken-down bus.

Willette led the Norse with 25 points and Barnes added 24. Tuomimen had 16.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos, and to listen to a replay of the last two minutes of the game. Also, hear interviews with Coach Matt Johnson, Tuomimen, Barnes, and Willette. And interviews with recruits Cade Contreras and Dondre Yohe.