>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

WHAT A NIGHT! Elise Hawes raises twine in celebration Saturday night as EOU won its fifth consecutive Cascade Conference title. The Observer/BRUCE MASON

Six and five-tenths seconds remained. The game was well in hand, in favor of EOU. And here was Lady Mounties basketball coach Anji Weissenfluh, yelling as loud as she could, getting the referee’s attention, getting everyone’s attention, calling timeout.

What was she doing? Who was coming into the game?

Someone deserving. Someone special.

So here she came, the senior from Ninilchik, Alaska, as her name broadcasted across the Quinn Coliseum speakers, as her bench watched in astonishment, as she strutted those sneakers onto the court for the first time this season.

Soak it in, Whitney Leman.

Soak it in, Mounties players.

This is how you celebrate a Cascade Conference title.

You celebrate in touching fashion. With the kid who missed an entire season from a freak, and unfair, achilles tendon tear, but now, finally, deservingly, got this opportunity to stroll onto the EOU hardwood, one last time.

This is how to celebrate. With a standing ovation. With the bench crying.

So, when Laura Olsen -— another injured senior inserted into the game by Weissenfluh, just for this moment — inbounded the ball, and it found its way to Leman, there she was, holding it, cherishing it, squeezing it, then throwing it as high as someone two-days removed from taking off that walking boot could.

And as it rose toward the Quinn Coliseum rafters, the Mounties met in a huddle, hugging, smiling, crying — some bawling — celebrating this 75-68 win versus Northwest Christian College, as well as their fifth straight Cascade Conference title.

And this one may be the most special of them all.

A unique finish

“Each one has its special story,” Weissenfluh said.

“But this one is very unique, and obviously, heartfelt, because of what Whitney and Laura had to go through.”

Two seniors. Two season-ending injuries. Two heartbreaking occurrences.

So no matter the score, Weissenfluh was getting them on the floor. And with 6.5 seconds left, the glorious opportunity arose.

“I didn’t hear a word coach said,” Leman said. “Just in the moment, I couldn’t believe that I was actually going in the game.

“When I got out there, I was like, wait, ‘where am I supposed to go?’

She laughed, but this was afterward. While on the floor, she cried — “sad” and “happy” tears —  as did most of the Mounties, during this highly-emotional moment. 

“Seeing Whitney out on the court for the first time this year ... I can’t even put it into the words, I mean, I’m just full of emotion,” Weissenfluh said, holding back tears.

“She’s everything that Eastern basketball is about.  She’s everything that I’m about as a coach.

“Her and Laura.

 “Both of them.

“Those two have given me their heart and soul. They’ve given Eastern their heart and soul.

“I wish I could’ve given more than six seconds. It doesn’t seem like enough.”

Oh, but it was.

Tiff’ and Sheen’

As for the rest of the game, four Mounties scored in double figures, but it was Sheena Henderson and Tiffanie Ulmer who stole the show.

Ulmer finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds.  Henderson 16 points, five rebounds.

Both dominated the paint.

Both were x-factors in bringing home a special championship on a special night.

“Tiffanie and Sheena, they don’t shy away from any situation,” Weissenfluh said.

“If they miss one, they’re not worried about it.  They’re going to shoot another one and they’re going to make the next one.

“They’re resilient. They’ll get it done when you need to.

“Championship teams need to have a couple of those players — and we definitely have them in those two.”

The happy ending

So for a bad injury that shouldn’t have happened, was there a better way to find a happy ending for Leman?

She finished school last year. Could’ve graduated. But she came back to Eastern Oregon this past fall — all the way from Ninilchik, Alaska, mind you — just to play her senior season.

Then devastation struck.

It was an October practice. And there she was, taking an outlet pass, turning down the floor with nobody around— the same thing she’s done “100 times in practice every day,” she said — then falling to the hardwood in sharp pain.

With a torn achilles tendon.

And her season was over.

Watching her teammates this year and not being able to play was tough, she said. Even depressing.

So she helped anyway she could. She developed a web page. She took pictures. She even helped recruit.

And, finally, deservingly, she got on the floor for this special 6.5 second finish to the season.

Said Breana Olson: “Having her out on the floor like that is ... is really undescribable.”

And for you Whitney?

“I can’t stop thinking about it,” she said. “It was probably one of the best moments of my life.”

NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN COLLEGE (68)

 Croll 2-7 0-0 4, Renner 2-4 2-2 8, Lipp 4-11 0-0 9, Gray 6-12 0-0 13, Nelson 2-5 0-0 4, Bolander 2-3 0-0 6, Gambee 9-15 0-0 18, Crocker 1-1 0-0 2, Van Loon 1-3 2-4 4. Totals 29-61 4-6 68.

EASTERN OREGON (75)

 Nilson 0-0 0-0 0, Leavitt 3-9 8-8 14, Olson 0-2 0-0 0, Fiso 3-7 4-5 12, Olsen 0-0 0-0 0, Leman 0-0 0-0 0, Henderson 8-13 0-0 16, Ulmer 12-19 5-5 29, Hawes 1-8 0-0 2, Matson 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 27-59 19-29 75.

Halftime score – Eastern Oregon 37, Northwest Christian 35. Three-pointers – Northwest Christian 6-11(Renner 2-3, Lipp 1-3, Gray 1-3, Bolander 2-2), Eastern Oregon 2-11 (Leavitt 0-1, Olson 0-1, Fiso 2-4, Ulmer 0-2, Hawes 0-3) Fouled out – None. Total fouls – Northwest Christian 20, Eastern Oregon 7. Technical fouls – None. Turnovers –Northwest Christian 15 , Eastern Oregon 16. Rebounds – Northwest Christian 28 (C roll 9), Eastern Oregon 39 (Ulmer 11). Assists –Northwest Christian 18 (Croll 9), Eastern Oregon 22 (Fiso 5).