“The Mustang Miracle”

“This was the craziest moment in live sports that I have ever witnessed,” said Ennis girls basketball head coach Mike Speck after his team came back from 17 points down to defeat the Huntley Project and qualify for the Class B state tournament. 

“Down by 17 points with 3 minutes and 45 seconds to go,” he explained. “I had two timeouts in my pocket and told the girls during a timeout that Huntley had called: ‘It's going to have to be a Mustang Miracle.’”

The Mustangs earned their way to the divisional tournament with a dramatic win against rival Jefferson to win the District 5B tournament the weekend before. Now they were playing Huntley Project who they had leap frogged in the 406mtsports.com rankings this week, with their season on the line.

“With 3:45 to go Elsie Chandler started us off with a 3,” he began as he ran through the events that got the Mustangs to state. “Keira Rice then came up with a steal with 3:20. Marissa Snider hit a 3 with 2:56 to go. We came up with a rebound on a Huntley miss and Snider got fouled going to the cup. She buried one free throw and missed the next. This got us to the 10 mark with 2:33 to go.  

The Mustangs had opened the divisional tournament with a dominating 73-29 win over Colstrip two days before to move them to the semifinals and a matchup against Huntley Project, who had beaten them 82-49 in last year’s divisional tournament. 

“Brooke Hoyer came up with another steal, gave the ball to Snider who shot a 3 that rattled out,” said Speck, continuing his recap. “Hoyer rebounded the ball and put it back in to put us down 8 with 2:10 to go. I used one of my timeouts to give the girls a breather, but to also tell them to bring more pressure as we have only fouled once in the quarter and this might need to come down to free throws.”

Speck had spoken about his team’s focus on going 1-0 all season long. Now that focus, that they used to stay focused from game to game, had to be used possession to possession if they were going to have a chance at making the final. 

“Snider came up with another steal out of our timeout,dished it to Hoyer who put it in for 2,” he exclaimed. “We were down six with two minutes to go. Snider came up with another steal in Huntley's backcourt that led to a Hazalin Maddison layup. Huntley then answered with a 2 of their own to put them up six with 1:13 on the clock.”

The team had fought themselves back into the game and it was their leaders who came up with what it took to complete the comebacks and tie the game. 

“Snider quickly dribbled up the court, dished it to Maddison who tickled the twine of the net from three,” continued Speck. “Down three with 1:07 left,Hoyer came up with another steal. Snider caught the inbound pass from about 35 feet and put it in for three to tie the game up with 50 seconds to go. Huntley dribbled the ball up the floor and Hoyer came up with ANOTHER steal.

With momentum all going the Mustangs' way and his seniors leading the charge, Speck played the last card in his arsenal to prepare for the 50 seconds that was in front of them.

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