Championship heartbreak: Bellevue falls in epic OT thriller

In one of the most thrilling state championship games in Washington state history, the Bellevue Wolverines fell to the undefeated Curtis Vikings 9-7 in overtime on Saturday night. Leading 6-5 late in the fourth quarter, Bellevue was one defensive stop away from the state title when Curtis junior David Ling converted a man-up goal with 9.01 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. In overtime, Curtis outscored Bellevue 3-1 en route to the title. With the loss, the Vikings denied the Wolverines’ attempt at a fifth consecutive state championship.

From the opening sprint to the end of the first quarter, Bellevue dominated both ends of the pool. Unfortunately, the Wolverines fell short in one key area: converting scoring opportunities. On the first possession of the game, senior Mina Abdel Shahed drove towards the goal with a Curtis defender on his back, but the entry pass sailed high and long for a turnover. On Bellevue’s third and fourth possessions, a point-blank set shot was blocked by Curtis senior goalie Andrew Gronlund and a counter attack shot sailed over the cage. Later in the quarter, junior co-captain Cameron Hayes turned his defender at the 3-post and flipped the ball to a wide open Mario Abdel Shahed at the 2-post, but Abdel Shahed’s shot was blocked by a diving Gronlund. On Bellevue’s next possession, Abdel Shahed’s set backhand attempt was once again blocked by Gronlund. Junior Jesse Hainze was the lone Wolverine able to find the back of the net in, burying a post-up shot on Bellevue’s second possession.

Even though the shots weren’t falling, Bellevue’s smothering defense held the high-powered Viking offense in check. Curtis’ first eight possessions resulted in one dump, five steals and two blocks of outside shots late in the shot clock. Curtis’ only first-quarter goal came at the 0:51 mark of the first quarter. Sophomore goalie Ethan Wlaschin blocked an outside shot, but the rebound bounced directly to Curtis senior center Ryan St. John, who pushed it in to tie the game at 1-1.

Curtis scored the game’s only second-quarter goal on junior Sam Abbott’s post-up at 5:40. The rest of the second quarter was a defensive battle, as neither team could find the back of the net. By halftime, Wlaschin had registered six saves to keep the game close at 2-1.

Bellevue won the third quarter sprint and found another golden opportunity on its first possession, but a Mina Abdel Shahed set backhand was blocked by Gronlund. On the ensuing possession, St. John buried a powerful step-out shot from center to put Curtis ahead 3-1. At the 4:13 mark, St. John struck again, this time on a man-up no-look shot after Mina Abdel Shahed was ejected on a drive by Abbott.  Facing a 4-1 deficit, Bellevue’s back was against the wall. But the Wolverines responded with two late third quarter goals. With 2:13 left in the period, AJ Rossman’s deflected outside shot fell directly in front of Zack Rossman at center, who pushed it into the goal to make it 4-2. On Curtis’ next possession, AJ Rossman earned a backcourt ejection on Abbott after Hayes’ perimeter steal. On the ensuing 6-on-5, AJ Rossman found Mario Abdel Shahed at the 2-post to make it 4-3. Just when the momentum was shifting towards Bellevue, Curtis answered. Mario Abdel Shahed was ejected for a second time on an Abbott drive and Curtis senior Garrett Friedman hit a quick shot from the 2-post to put Curtis up 5-3.

Facing a two-goal deficit with just 5 minutes to play in the fourth period, the clock began to become a major concern for Bellevue. But in an instant, the Wolverines seized control of the game. With 5:11 remaining, Mina Abdel Shahed hit a huge outside skip shot to pull the Wolverines to within 5-4. On Bellevue’s next possession, Zack Rossman found Hayes posting-up Ling at the 3-post. Hayes buried a step-out to even the game at 5-5. On Bellevue’s next possession, Mina Abdel Shahed threaded a beautiful set pass to Hayes, who was posting up Ling once again. Hayes turned and lofted a shot past Gronlund to put Bellevue ahead 6-5 with 4:20 left to play. The game was scoreless for the next three minutes, and with 0:42 left to play, Curtis called timeout to set up its final possession. One more stop and Bellevue would be champions once again.

On its final possession of regulation, Curtis worked to isolate Sam Abbott at the 5-meter line for a foul and shoot. When the entry pass went to Abbott, Hainze crashed and touched the ball a split second after a foul was called. Unfortunately, Hainze was ejected for interfence even though Abbott had already kicked out the ball to the perimeter by the time the call was made. With 26 seconds remaining, Curtis worked the ball around the perimeter looking for their final shot. With 9.01 seconds to play, Ling caught the ball, pump faked, and unleashed a perfect shot over Wlaschin’s head to tie the game and ignite the crowd. Bellevue called timeout to set-up one final play. AJ Rossman caught a perfect cross-pass from Hayes and snuck the ball past Gronlund, but the shot was a half-second too late, thus sending the game into overtime.

In the first overtime period, Curtis struck first with its second goal of the game off a rebound. This time, Ling’s lob barred out, but in the ensuing scrum for possession, St. John was able to pressure Wlaschin into putting the ball into the goal for a split second. Defense ruled the remainder of the first overtime, as neither team was able to score.

In the second overtime period, Zack Rossman won the sprint and immediately posted-up Ling in set. AJ Rossman fed his brother with a great entry pass, leading to a turn and foul. But rather than earning a 5-meter penalty shot, Rossman was awarded a common ejection. The call would prove costly, as Bellevue failed to convert its man-up thanks to a diving save by Gronlund. On Curtis’ next possession, Mario Abdel Shahed committed his third ejection, again on an outside drive, and junior JJ Spoja converted the 6-on-5 to put Curtis ahead 8-6. With their backs to the wall, Bellevue responded yet again. Zack Rossman posted-up Ling with 0:58 remaining and scored to pull to within 8-7. On the next possession, Hainze appeared to make a perimeter steal, but it was ruled a foul. Spoja then grabbed the ball and buried an outside shot to put the nail in the coffin for Bellevue’s title hopes.

After limiting State Offensive MVP Sam Abbott to just one goal in the finals, AJ Rossman was named State Defensive MVP. Co-captains Zack Rossman and Hayes earned First-Team All-State honors, while AJ Rossman and Mario Abdel Shahed earned Second-Team All-State. Mina Abdel Shahed was awarded All-State Honorable Mention. Wlaschin played brilliantly in goal, posting 11 saves and one steal in the heartbreaking defeat.