First the fans got to their feet, because they didn't have to worry about still playing a basketball game.

Then Mooseheart's bench players and coaches stood too, as the final seconds of Monday's Oregon Regional opener against the host Hawks slipped off the clock.

Finally the clock expired and the Mooseheart quintet on the floor were able to join in the celebrations - and they did so with gusto - jumping, hugging and whooping loudly after the 55-46 Red Ramblers triumph.
The win did more than move Mooseheart into Wednesday's regional semifinals against Byron. It erased a literal lifetime of playoff frustration: Mooseheart's last boys basketball playoff victory came in March 1964.

(Some perspective: The Beatles' first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show had come just one month earlier.)

``Everyone thought we were going to lose,`` Mooseheart center Mike Tovar said. ``I knew we could do it. But to actually go and do it is something different.`` The win was the product of a second-half rally by the Ramblers (17-6) that gained momentum quickly and became unstoppable in the fourth quarter.

``This hasn't hit me yet,`` Mooseheart coach Jeff Perales said. ``Oregon plays in a great conference and against good competition and they're a good team. I think our athleticism and our quickness really paid off tonight.`` Tovar scored a game-high 24 points, but only had 2 points in a first quarter in which Oregon (6-21) took a 10-3. The Hawks led 10-5 after that quarter but also missed their best chance to take advantage of Mooseheart's sluggish start.

``I think we lost in the first quarter when we had them 10-3 and they'd missed four or five lay-ups,`` Oregon coach Jim Spratt said. ``We'd missed a couple of short, easy shots. We could have had a 10- to 15-point lead at the half if we'd taken care of the glass.`` By halftime, the lead was just 23-17 and Moosheart was only behind 37-35 entering the fourth quarter. The Ramblers took the lead in the opening minute of the final quarter and pressed their advantage.

``We couldn't let out guard down because they had a lot of good shooter as well as good post players,`` Tovar said. ``If we let down and had some bad breaks, we knew they would come back and take over.`` Tovar scored nine points in the fourth quarter, as many points as Oregon scored as a team. Overall, the Ramblers outscored the Hawks 20-9 in the final quarter.

``We had to come out with a lot of intensity,`` Tovar said. ``Everyone told me that I had to take over and to do what we had to do to win the game - whatever it took to be a leader.`` Stephen Pinto scored 11 points and Anthony Westbrook 10 points to complement Tovar.

Tyler Spratt led Oregon with 14 points, though he struggled after an eight-point first quarter and eventually fouled out of the game.
Cody Humphrey added 12 points for Oregon.

Mike Tovar led Mooseheart in scoring its playoff victory over Oregon with 24 points, many from shots near the basket.

Anthony Westbrook scored 10 points for the Red Ramblers and showed he can work well under pressure under the basket.

The Mooseheart faithful traveled as they always do in strong numbers to support their team.

The last time a boys basketball playoff scoreboard showed Mooseheart as the victor was 1964.

 
Mooseheart guard Chris Morones looks for an opening in the Oregon defense.

Stephen Pinto scored 11 points for Mooseheart against Oregon and was always a threat dribbling to the basket.

Late in the game, Mooseheart coach Jeff Perales reminded the team to stay focused.

After he was fouled late in the game, Mooseheart's Mike Tovar took a brief celebratory leap before knocking down some free throws.