Last-second shot lifts Pueblo West boys basketball over No. 2 Harrison

A 14-point lead in the fourth quarter had vanished. It looked like Class 4A No. 2 Harrison boys basketball was on the verge of completing a comeback at home to remain unbeaten.

But Jimmy Wardle had other plans.

His shot was in the air with about two seconds left and fell through the hoop to give Pueblo West one of the biggest boys basketball upsets in this young 2019-20 season.

As the final ticks ran out and the Cyclones bench leaping in celebration, the comeback was held off. Pueblo West left Colorado Springs with a 65-62 win, potentially giving the team enough clout to break into the first CHSAANow.com basketball rankings of the new year.

BBB Final @cyclonespwhs 65@hhspanthers1 62

Jimmy Wardle with the buzzer beater fir the Cyclones@Bball_CO pic.twitter.com/FJNIfLA9I7

— Jon Miller (@J_Mills78) December 20, 2019

With just under six minutes left in the game, it looked like the Cyclones (5-2 overall) were in clear control and could almost cruise to the win.

But Harrison didn’t come into the season as a top-10 team by accident. The Panthers (5-1) went on a 15-1 run to tie the game. But it was the Cyclones who had the ball in the waning seconds.

Taylor Harris brought the ball up the court and found an open Wardle on the wing. The Panthers couldn’t close out in time and the uncontested shots fell, shaking the landscape of 4A boys basketball heading into the meat of the season.

Donta Dawson led the Panthers scoring effort with 25 points.