Going into the 2010-2011 season for the Baker University men’s basketball team, the main storyline was focused on how successful head coach Brett Ballard would be in his first year as a coach.
That was until sophomore Sam Kenney hit a halfcourt buzzer-beater, after stealing a pass with two seconds left, to beat Kansas Wesleyan University 53-52 in Baker’s first game of the season Nov. 4 in Collins Center.
In the past week, the shot has appeared on the front page of yahoo.com, on a blog on espn.com and has generated 887,780 views on YouTube as of Thursday morning.
“To be honest, I was just trying to get a shot off,” Kenney said. “It was kind of a gift, so I was just happy to get the ball. I heaved it up there, with two seconds to go, and hoped it went in.”
Kenney led the Wildcats with 12 points and senior Jaris Wommack and junior Joe Wachter each scored in double figures as well, with 10 points apiece.
Kenney’s halfcourt shot to win the game was one of eight 3-point shots BU hit against Kansas Wesleyan.
“Every guard that we have is a great shooter,” Wachter said. “(Kenney) and (Wommack) hit some big threes and then (senior Austin) Bond hit a three in the corner that was big for us, too.”
Although the Wildcats won the game, Ballard believes the game-winning situation should never have happened.
“When it went in, you know, I’m happy we won, but we have a lot of things that we’ve got to get better on,” Ballard said. “We were pretty fortunate to win that game, but I’m happy for (Kenney). He’s a good kid and he deserves it. We will take the win.”
BU did not have much time to take in what transpired in the last two seconds of the game against Kansas Wesleyan, as the team had to prepare to play Tabor College Friday in Hillsboro.
The Wildcats defeated Tabor 63-59 behind 19 points and nine rebounds from Bond. Wommack also added 13 points in the winning effort.
The team then had a few days of practice before playing Friends University Wednesday. BU lost to Friends 99-72 Wednesday in Wichita.
Bond scored 13 points and Wommack scored 12 points.
Baker will take on rival Ottawa University at 7 p.m. Saturday in Collins Center before a rematch with Kansas Wesleyan at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Salina.
