KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Jamison Guerra converted a go-ahead 3-point play with six seconds remaining, helping Oregon Tech outlast Bushnell University, 96-93, in the quarterfinals of the Cascade Conference Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, at Danny Miles Court.
The No. 17-ranked Hustlin’ Owls (24-5) advance to meet Lewis-Clark State in the semifinals on Saturday night in Lewiston, Idaho.
Tech led 84-74 with six minutes left and held a 93-86 edge with 45 seconds left, but the No. 6-seeded Beacons (15-14) made a dramatic run. Kaden Sand converted a put-back of a miss and following an OIT turnover, Sand was fouled on a 3-point attempt – knocking down all three free throws to pull BU within 93-91.
The Owls misplayed the ensuing inbound pass, with Trevon Richmond driving to the basket for a layup that tied the game with 33 seconds left. Richmond had a chance to complete the 3-point play, but missed the free throw – giving OIT a chance. Guerra answered, driving down the right side of the lane, banking home the runner – and converted the free throw to give the hosts the 3-point lead.
Alexis Angeles had a chance to force overtime, but his 25-footer at the horn was well off the mark.
The game was marred by 52 fouls and 78 free throw attempts – with OIT making 35-of-44 free throw chances and the Beacons converting 26-of-34 chances at the line.
Trailing 53-52 at the break, BU rode Sand and post Spencer Huffman in the second half, taking a 66-64 lead midway through the period. OIT countered with an 8-0 run, getting inside baskets from Jackson Cooper, Kody Bauman and Guerra, pushing the lead to 80-70 on a long Kam Osborn triple with seven minutes left.
Six OIT players scored in double-figures, with the three forwards – Cooper, Bauman and Blake Jensen combining to score 46 points with 19 rebounds, making 22-of-26 free throws. Cooper scored a career-high 17 points, Jensen added 17, with Bauman posting 12 points and nine boards.
Osborn scored 17 points before fouling out late in the contest, Guerra had 15 points and seven rebounds, with Keegan Shivers scoring 10 points.
Sand had a career-high 35 points in the loss for the Beacons, with Hoffman adding 20 and Angeles scoring a season-high 19. Record-setting BU senior, Stevie Schlabach, was held to five points before fouling out in the second half.
The win for the Owls was the 100th postseason win in program history.
