3 takeways on Mountain View's wild finish to defeat rival Mesa in boys high school basketball

Host Mesa thought it won the basketball game Tuesday night, as its students stormed the court. But hold on. A foul was called.

And, after senior Nate Bogle knocked down two free throws with :00.5 put on the clock, Mountain View students ended up storming the court in the end in a dramatic 53-52 Toros' win that showed why this may be the most intense high school basketball rivalry in Arizona.

It was an incredible change of emotions from both sides with chaos and confusion setting in after Bogle drove to the basket and put up a shot after it appeared time had run out.

"I thought maybe I didn't get it off on time," Bogle said. "The buzzer went off first. But they called a foul. I shot free throws and they went in."

Security had to push Mesa students back into the stands. The three referees met and gathered with the two head coaches -- Mountain View's Andy Johnson and Mesa's Scott Stansberry. There are no video play reviews in the Arizona Interscholastic Association to make sure the correct call was made.

The noise was deafening, but the look on Stansberry's face indicated Bogle would go to the line with a shot at stealing this game from Mesa.

Stansberry slumped his shoulders, and shook his head.

"We're upset with the way it ended," Stansberry said. "As soon as Brigg threw the pass cross court, and Bogle caught it and dribbled, to myself, I said, 'This clock is going to expire.' He needed to shoot it, not dribble it.

"I was watching the trail ref and I saw the lights go off and saw him still going, so I said he waved it off to make sure. I thought the game was over."

Mountain View (16-10) swept Mesa (18-6) in the first year of the Johnson coaching era and should ride momentum into next week's historic Arizona Interscholastic Association 32-team Open Division state tournament.

Who knows? These guys might meet up again in the Open, depending how the rest of the week goes and the bracket falls when it is released by the AIA on Saturday.

Here are three takeaways from one of the craziest games of the season that brought out the students and the emotions:

1. 'A hundred free throws'

When Johnson came in to take over the program from legendary coach Gary Ernst, he emphasized doing the little things. Like shooting free throws at the end of practices.

"We make our guys shoot a hundred free throws," Johnson said. "They've got to record them every day. He's always been one of our best shooters. And he was pretty good tonight."

Bogle stood at the free-throw line for what seemed like eternity after things got sorted out. But point guard Brigg Wolfe, who made the cross-court pass to Bogle, had no doubt on how it would end.

"That's out shooter right there," said Wolfe, who led his team with 18 points. "I had no doubt in my mind."

After Bogle made the two free throws, Mesa called a timeout, followed by a Mountain View time out.

A pass to halfcourt went to 6-foot-7 forward Fredrick McCoo, who launched a shot that was short.

Staying poised

The way Parker Escalante (23 points) was scoring, it looked like Mesa would pull away. The Jackrabbits led by as much as eight, but the Toros kept answering. A 9-2 Mountain View run gave the Toros their first lead, 44-43, with 1:33 left in the third quarter.

Point guard Kota Benson (six points) had an off shooting night for Mesa, but he was clutch when the Jackrabbits needed him the most. His 3 with 1:43 left gave Mesa a 52-51 lead.

Wolfe drove for a basket, but the points were waved off, as he was called for a charge with 1:21 to play.

After Benson missed a 3 with nine seconds left, Mountain View had one last chance with nine seconds to play. The Toros set up a play for either Wolfe or Bogle. Wolfe, double teamed as he dribbled down the court, fired a pass across the court to Bogle.

But was there time left when Bogle shot it?

The basket lit up red before he underhand scooped his shot to the basket. If a foul was determined before he took the shot, Bogle would not be at the line, because the Toros were still under seven team fouls.

"The explanation I got from Richard Pineda, the ref, he said, 'I got a foul with .05 and he was shooting,' " Stansberry said. "I said, 'If you got a foul with .05, that's on the ground and he's on the sideline.' He did not shoot before that buzzer went off. We got multiple angles and he did not get the shot off."

"I thought he got called (for a foul before time expired)," Johnson said. "That's why this is such a great rivalry. You've got two really good teams."

Mesa could go from hosting a first-round Open game to being on the road to start the Open.

"The frustrating thing is it affects the seeding, it affects a lot of things," Stansberry said.

3. Bringing the program back

This was a huge win for Mountain View and it community and creating a buzz that was seen during the heyday of Mountain View basketball and its seven state championships.

"We're trying to get back to that standard for Mountain View of what it once was, and I feel like we took a pretty big step tonight," Johnson said.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter@azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 3 takeways on Mountain View's wild finish to beat rival Mesa