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

SAN DIEGO — 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.