It’s Road Sweet Road Again for Vista : Team Comes From Behind for Overtime Victory at Mt. Carmel

The Vista High School boys’ basketball team feels right at home on the road. Which is exactly where it was Friday night for a Palomar League game at Mt. Carmel. Vista won its 12th road game in 17 tries, coming from behind for a 61-56 overtime victory.

Vista is just 1-4 at home and in the one victory--66-65 over Orange Glen--the Panthers did not lead until the final 13 seconds.

Vista (13-9, 6-5) moved into third place, a half-game ahead of Mt. Carmel (13-9, 5-5).

“We’re an adventure,” said Randy Wiens, Vista coach. “If we get a playoff game at home, I may call and see if I can get it switched.”

Friday night’s adventure began in the third quarter, when Mt. Carmel used a spread-out offense to score the first eight points to take a 40-30 lead. Mt. Carmel, which gave top-ranked Torrey Pines its only loss of the season a week ago, looked as if it would easily pull away; it had successfully used the spread to win, 73-46, at Vista earlier this season.

“Last time we played them, they went into their stall, and I didn’t prepare well enough,” Wiens said. “The defense I tried to use, they just picked apart. When we got down by 10, I called a timeout and told them there is a lot of time left. That’s something we didn’t realized the first time.”

Vista then outscored Mt. Carmel, 8-2, to cut it to 42-38. Mt. Carmel’s Eric Olander hit a three-point shot with one second remaining to make it 45-38.

Mt. Carmel continued to use its slow-down offense in the fourth quarter, but the strategy failed because it could not hit its shots, and Vista took advantage of the misses. Mt. Carmel scored with 6:51 remaining to lead, 47-39, but did not score again until there was just 1:36 left. By that time, Vista led, 48-47.

Chris Conrad broke the streak with a drive inside to put Mt. Carmel ahead, 49-48. Conrad then hit two free throws with 49 seconds left, and Mt. Carmel led, 51-48.

Guard Clarence Reese tied the game for Vista with a three-point shot with 31 seconds remaining. Conrad had a chance to win the game but missed the front end of a one-and-one with eight seconds left.

Vista took control in overtime period behind Jeremey Scott’s rebounding. He scored twice after offensive rebounds to help Vista lead, 57-53, with 1:15 remaining. Jeff Hensley cut the lead to 57-55 with a minute left, but Vista managed to convert 2 of 4 one-and-one chances down the stretch.