Prep boys’ basketball: ‘Insane’ 3-point bomb gives Liberty Ranch a shot at NorCal title

Anybody who has ever picked up a basketball has practiced a game-winning shot.

Step right around the defender.

Step back.

Launch the 3. Buzzer sounds. Nothing but net.

Nate Nelson will tell you the practice pays off. The junior guard from Liberty Ranch High School lived the dream Saturday night, and it is even more wild than you imagined.

With his team trailing by one in overtime of a playoff game, Nelson collected the ball 30 feet from the rim. He cooly launched a shot that sailed through the hoop for a 60-58 Liberty Ranch win over Carlmont in a Northern California Division IV semifinal.

The student section immediately poured onto the court, first tackling Nelson, then hoisting him on their shoulders, holding him aloft for the parents still in the stands to applaud. When the fevered celebration finally broke, Nelson was surrounded by fans still cheering him through a postgame interview.

You’ve practiced that shot. You’ve imagined the moment. Everything after that is absolutely bonkers.

“It’s insane. It’s overwhelming. It’s so exciting that it happened to me,” Nelson said. “I was hoping that we could get something to me because I always want to shoot it. This time we got it back to back down by one to win. It’s just greatest feeling ever.”

The funny part is Nelson’s shot wasn’t exactly what coach Brian Chavez would have drawn up.

With Carlmont headed to the foul line leading 58-57, Chavez called a play to get Nelson open for a 3-pointer, figuring Carlmont would hit both free looks. But Carlmont missed, sparking a chaotic sprint back up the court as the seconds ticked away.

While everybody else in the packed gym went berserk after Nelson’s shot dropped, Chavez turned and walked a few steps away in disbelief.

“I see Nate just go ahead and clear out and the ball goes through and I’m like, ‘Well, if anybody’s gonna shoot it ... “ Chavez said. “I mean, he shoots those in practice. I mean, and he’s the school record holder in threes. So if you’re gonna have anybody take that shot, it’s him.

“As a coach, you’re well aware we’re only down one. But it looked good, went in, and I’m just so happy for him. I mean, all these kids. They’ve worked so hard. We had shootaround this morning, and they show up 15 minutes early. So games like this, that pays off.”

It was something of a coming-out party for Nelson, who said in the most humble way possible he’s comfortable shooting 30-something-foot shots to win playoff games. He practices those shots at his church. He takes them in practice. And with star center Cody Smith on the bench with a hand injury, somebody on the Hawks’ roster needed to step up their scoring Saturday night.

Nelson finished with 18 points. Six of those came in the final 15 seconds, as Nelson also hit a 3-pointer with 14.1 seconds left to cut the Carlmont lead to 58-57.

With Smith in the lineup, the Hawks looked like a clean-firing engine in the first quarter, ramping up a 26-10 lead. They lead 35-22 at halftime but scored just 14 points in the second half as Smith, a 6-foot-7 center, sat on the bench. That left the work to senior guard Drew Fischer, who had 17 points.

Fischer and Nelson work in concert in the backcourt. When Fischer rolls left with the ball in hand, it’s Nelson’s job to stay away from him, providing space for Fischer to work and leaving himself open for a shot. On the final play, it was Fischer who delivered the ball to Nelson after a mad dash up the court. They’ve only played together a couple of years, but Fischer said they just click in the backcourt. Nelson doesn’t demand the ball in his hands; he just wants to win.

“He’s like 40% from three but nobody here would know, but I know and he’s a baller,” Fischer said.

The dramatic win begets even more drama. The No. 3-seeded Hawks face No. 4 Justin-Siena on Tuesday night in a NorCal final. Win that game and they get one more appearance at Golden 1 Center in a state championship game.

Smith’s hand injury is a huge question mark for Liberty Ranch. The Hawks struggled to pull down rebounds without their aggressive big man doing the work in the second half.

But the Hawks have homecourt advantage against Justin-Siena, and that’s no small thing. The student section was packed with kids wearing green construction vests and hard hats Saturday night. One guy wore flooring knee pads. Another stole his dad’s safety glasses. Surrounded by his buddies Saturday night, Nelson shouted out thanks for the memories.

“Thank you all for being my greatest supporters,” he said. “You know, it really motivates me to make our school proud and make my family proud.”

They’ll be out in force Tuesday. Want a seat at the game? Chavez says with a smile, “Well, we shoot around at 11 during lunch. You might want to show up then.”

With drama like Nelson’s game-winning shot, how could you not show up early?