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KU sinks North at the buzzer Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Photos by Jim Craven / Mail TribuneNorth Medford's Gabe Burchfiel tries to get past Klamath Union's Nick Caleb, left, in Friday's game as Ryan Lucas, right, looks on. Pelican Nick Caleb buries a last-second, 3-point basket to lift Klamath Union over the Black Tornado By DON HUNT A movie-script writer could not have concocted anything more dramatic. A Klamath Falls prosecutor files assault charges against a North Medford basketball player for an alleged head-butting incident against a team that the prosecutor's son plays for. The prosecutor agrees to drop the charges if the player sits out the following game between the two teams four weeks later and enters anger counseling classes. At the 11th hour, the prosecutor drops the case, citing a "circus" atmosphere that has thrust the saga into the national spotlight. And then, during the rematch, the forgotten party - the prosecutor's son - swishes a 3-point basket at the buzzer that enables his Klamath Union squad to sneak off with a 60-59 victory. The latest twist to the implausible tale happened before a stunned crowd of about 1,500 Friday night in the North Medford gym. Nick Caleb, the son of controversial Klamath County District Attorney Ed Caleb, drilled the game-winning shot from the left perimeter and then joined his teammates and a couple hundred Pelican fans in a spirited midcourt celebration. "God has plans, and maybe this was one of them," said Klamath Union coach Bret Crawford, looking jubilant but exhausted as he addressed the media in a hallway outside the locker room after the game. "This was a storybook ending for our team, and Nick is going to remember that shot for the rest of his life." "Wow," Crawford added with a grin. "Unbelievable." Seconds later, Ed Caleb appeared in the hallway, picked up the much smaller Crawford and spun him around in an impromptu dance. Nick Caleb, a 6-foot-2 senior forward who played no part in the Jan. 4 episode or its aftermath, declined to talk about the effect it had on him. Teammate Travis Baker, who set up Caleb's game-winning shot with a pinpoint pass, said: "Nick fought back from everything that went on during the week and you've got to admire him for that. "Just look what he did. He just gave me the biggest rush I've ever had." Taylor, meanwhile, was greeted with a standing ovation from the North Medford faithful when he was introduced as a member of the Black Tornado starting lineup prior to the game. He also gave North a big lift early in the contest, scoring six of the Tornado's first eight points, jumping high to tip a ball that resulted in a basket by teammate Ryan Lucas and later drawing an offensive charge. Taylor, who also declined comment, finished the game with 11 points, five assists and four steals. "It was a distracting, frustrating and emotional week for Zach, and I thought he played great," North Medford coach Tim Sam said. "He was our biggest spark plug out there, but then that's nothing new. "I'm just so proud of how he handled the situation." North Medford appeared destined for victory almost from the outset. Other than a 2-0 deficit in the game's opening seconds, the Tornado led for all but the final tick of the clock. The hosts led by as many as 13 points in the first period, took a 35-27 advantage into the halftime break and still led 44-40 after three quarters. And when Gabe Burchfiel - who led North with 15 points and 11 rebounds - hit both ends of a one-and-one and Lucas followed with a 10-foot hook shot with six minutes to play, the Tornado had a 48-40 lead. Klamath Union crept within 56-55 following a three-point play by Jacob Wynn with 22.1 seconds remaining, but Burchfiel made it 58-55 by making two free throws with 15.1 seconds left. The Pelicans then caught a break when Jeff Deline fouled Baker, who made a pair from the charity stripe with 9.9 seconds to go that trimmed North's lead to 58-57. At the other end, Taylor was fouled and hit one of two from the line to make it 59-57 with 6.6 seconds remaining. Klamath Union then called a timeout to set up a last-second play. The Pelicans' plan was to attack the middle of the North Medford defense, go for a 2-point basket, force a tie and win the game in overtime. But the Tornado took away that option, so Baker took a few dribbles and fired a pass to a cutting Caleb, who turned, launched and forever etched himself into Klamath Union basketball lore. "The funny thing is, I've been in a slump for the past several games," said Nick Caleb, who finished with 11 points. "Maybe this will end it." KLAMATH UNION (60) - Wynn 14, Tucker 13, Caleb 11, Pisan 11, Baker 5, Mortenson 3, Garcia 3. Totals: 22-49 11-17 60. NORTH MEDFORD (59) - Burchfiel 15, Barlow 12, Taylor 11, Lucas 8, Deline 5, Hovland 5, Clifton 2, Higgins 1. Totals: 18-37 21-27 59. Klamath Union..................................... 13 14 13 20 - 60 North Medford...................................... 23 12 19 15 - 59 3-point baskets - Klamath Union 3 (Tucker 1, Pisan 1, Caleb 1), North Medford 2 (Barlow 1, Hovland 1). Fouled out - Garcia. JV result - North Medford 52, Klamath Union 50. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.