Gibson hits game-winner at the buzzer

By Shaun Scott • January 7, 2018 6:16 pm
Photo courtesy of Don Borin/Stop Action Photography Issaquah Eagles players celebrate after Issaquah freshman Camryn Gibson (No. 3) recorded a game-winning basket at the buzzer against the Mount Si Wildcats. Issaquah defeated Mount Si 49-48 on Jan. 5.
Photo courtesy of Don Borin/Stop Action Photography Issaquah Eagles players celebrate after Issaquah freshman Camryn Gibson (No. 3) recorded a game-winning basket at the buzzer against the Mount Si Wildcats. Issaquah defeated Mount Si 49-48 on Jan. 5.

Audibles are a consistent fact in the world of sports.

It doesn’t matter if its on the football field, on the hardwood of the basketball court or on a softball/baseball field. Things never go according to the script. This was on display in a KingCo 4A girls basketball matchup between the Issaquah Eagles and Mount Si Wildcats.

Issaquah, which trailed Mount Si 48-47 with just 0.7 seconds left on the clock, had one last chance to pull out a victory. Issaquah guard forward Alivia Stephens-Kirkman, who was inbounding the pass, was looking for Issaquah sharpshooter Luci Stewart on the final play of the game. Stewart was covered like a blanket by Mount Si’s defense. With a five-second violation looming, Stephens-Kirkman unleashed a perfect pass to freshman guard Camryn Gibson.

Gibson, who was cutting hard toward the basket, caught the pass before releasing a perfect lay-up at the buzzer, lifting the Eagles to a dramatic 49-48 victory against the Wildcats on Jan. 5 at Issaquah High School. The entire Eagles squad erupted off the bench, mobbing Gibson in a celebration that will never be forgotten.

“The play wasn’t for me but I knew that if I didn’t cut or make the right basketball play that the game would be over,” Gibson said. “I just made the right decision and knew the lane was wide open. They (Mount Si) were trying to defend our shooters. So I cut to the basket and had a strong finish.”

Stewart has all the confidence in Gibson.

“The play was actually going to me but they were covering me,” Stewart said. “Cam was wide open. When I saw that she (Stephens-Kirkman) passed to Cam, I was like we’re good. I knew she was going to make that.”

Issaquah head coach Jackie Bykonen was thrilled with the outcome.

“We didn’t draw it up that way but we (coaching staff) said Cam would have a good moment in this game and she had one,” Bykonen said. “She was in the right spot at the right time.”

Mount Si head coach Jason Marr was proud of his team’s performance in defeat.

“It was just one of those things that could had gone either way,” Marr said of the outcome. “It was a really good game. We played so hard.”

Issaquah improved its overall record to 4-3 with the win while Mount Si dropped to 5-5 overall. The Eagles will face the Bothell Cougars at 6 p.m. on Jan. 12 in Bothell.