Orlando Gonzales Nails 3 at Buzzer to Silence the Lions

The Nelson Warriors' Men's Basketball team (8-9) closed out 2025 with a thrilling 87-84 victory over the visiting Justice Lions 87-84 at Scott Activity Center, when Orlando Gonzales channeled every childhood dream of a backyard buzzer-beater into one unforgettable, game-winning moment before an electric home crowd.

In a burgeoning cross-town rivalry occasionally bubbling over with intensity, tonight's game was physical, chippy, and tightly officiated, with referees whistling early and often (50 total personal foul calls and three technicals) to keep emotions in check. A spirited, raucous contingent of Lions fans traded roars with the Warriors faithful, a group that was understandably thinner than usual with students still away on Christmas break, but the atmosphere remained charged but restrained from tip to final horn.

Nelson seized control early behind Gonzales, who drained his team's opening points with a three just 1:04 in, setting the tone for a first half the Warriors largely commanded. Stretching the margin to as many as eight points early, Nelson carried a 46-41 edge into the locker room, answering every Justice push with poise and conviction.

The second half saw the Warriors assert dominance, building the lead to 13 early and then, in a sequence of events that sent the gym into delirium, to a game-high 16. At 7:39, Artemus Nathaniel Bradley rose up for a thunderous one-handed dunk which in and of itself could have been the highlight of the game. On the ensuing inbounds, Justice's Marshall Kerly raced coast-to-coast only to meet Artemus again—this time for a skyscraping block, again what could have been the game's most exciting moment. Yet less than a minute later, Gonzales splashed another triple to make it a 13-point cushion, and when Artemus rejected yet another shot on the next possession, the crowd erupted, sensing the rout was on.

Gonzales struck again at 6:02 with his next three, pushing the lead to 16, and the game appeared firmly in hand at 80-66 after an Artemus jumper with 4:12 to go.

But the Lions had one final roar left.

Over the next 3:57, Justice unleashed an 18-4 surge in which they speedily yet methodically chipped away at Nelson's lead until they knotted the score at 82-82 with exactly 90 seconds remaining—their first tie since 5-5 early in the contest.

After a trade a buckets, with 15 seconds left, Justice had a golden chance to take their first lead since 2-0, but Jaden Walker missed the front end of a one-and-one. In the scramble, Wyatt Mackay knocked the rebound out of bounds giving Justice an extra possession Nelson never wanted to see had. On the inbounds, Vanti Erving attacked the rim but in no small part to a tight defensive effort, he missed with eight seconds on the clock. Calvin Windley secured the board, fired it ahead to Gonzales, who crossed halfcourt and immediately called timeout with three ticks remaining.

Every child who ever counted down "three… two… one…" in a driveway felt this moment. The entire audience sat on the edge of their seats. The coach drawing up a play for just one final shot. If it misses, overtime. But if it goes in…

Immortality.

Gonzales inbounded from in front of the Nelson bench to Zoe Holman, who immediately handed it back. One pump fake, one hard dribble, and Gonzales rose from 28 feet, and with the flick of his wrist, launched a high, arcing rainbow that nearly kissed the roof but it dropped down perfectly – nothing but net as time expired.

And the crowd roared. The Warriors bench stormed Gonzales on the court. Nelson fans hugged and cried in exaltation. Lions fans trudged silently to the parking lot, tails tucked.

Orlando Gonzales, living the dream he'd rehearsed a thousand times under neighborhood hoops, had just authored another of a number of signature moments of this rivalry's history, and etched a moment in history deep into the memories of all who were fortunate to experience it.

Gonzales led all Nelson scorers with a career-high tying 25 points, while tying his career-high with 6 3's (each set on October 25). He was highly efficient from the field all evening, hitting a career-high 9 buckets on only 17 attempts, and netting his 66 outside shots on only 8 tries.

Holman, finished with 21 points, along with 6 assists and 2 steals, was a deadeye from the charity stripe nailing 10-11 when given the opportunity. Terrin Ross, a paragon of consistency, recorded his first double-double on the season, recording 15 points on 6-7 from the field along with 10 rebounds and a block. Bradley stuffed the score sheet in only 13 minutes off the bench due to foul trouble, scoring 13 points on a perfect 4-4 from the field and 2-2 from the free throw line, while also blocking 3 shots and snagging 3 rebounds.

For Justice, Jaden Walker led all scorers with 30 points on 10-14 shooting, while snagging 6 rebounds and dishing out 3 assists. Rayquan King was steady all game finishing with 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Jaydon Cameron dropped 11 points on 4-9 shooting, while grabbing 5 bours (including a pesky 4 offensive rebounds), while dishing out 2 assists and grabbing 2 steals.

The men will enjoy some time off as the calendar flips into 2026, but up next for the Warriors is West Coast Baptist on Thursday, January 8 at 7pm in the Scott Activity Center.

Do not forget to follow Nelson Athletics on X at @NelsonWarriors and Instagram at @nelsonwarriors.athletics.