Games like K-State's only happen in the movies

Basketball games end this way only in the movies. The basketball bounced and danced around the rim — it was in, out, in again, it was out — as if it was deciding what to do, deciding whose heart to break, whose day to make, deciding who would celebrate and hug at midcourt. Basketball games end this way only in the movies. And in tournament games.

Shalee Lehning, Kansas State’s gutsy little point guard, shot the shot. Everyone knew she would. She had been the guts of the most surprising team in the history of Big 12 basketball, men or women. This Wildcats team had risen from the bottom of the Big 12 last season to a conference championship this season, worst to first, and Lehning had driven them there, scoring points, grabbing rebounds, dishing assists, you name it.

“You know who’s going to shoot it,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly would remember telling his players in the huddle.

At that point, Iowa State led by a point. There were 6.5 seconds left in this Big 12 tournament game. The game had been so wild and strange and heart-wrenching that anything seemed possible.

Lehning raced toward the basket, drove left, twisted free, shot the ball with her left hand. The ball bounced on the rim softly, worked its way around, it seemed to hang up there forever, it was out, it was in …

Heather Ezell, Iowa State’s red-hot shooter, watched the shot from the bench. She had made a huge three-point shot just a few seconds earlier, her eighth of the game, a tournament record. This was one day after Ezell made seven three-pointers, which was a tournament record. She did not understand why her three-point shots were suddenly falling — all year they seemed to bang in and out — but a shooter does not ask why. A shooter keeps on shooting.

“There were a couple of times I was running down the court, and I was tired,” she said afterward. “I didn’t know if I could make it.”

It was that sort of game, exhausting, back and forth, big leads, furious comebacks, absurd momentum shifts. Iowa State was a big underdog; the Cyclones had been undermanned all year, devastated by injuries, crushed by tough losses. Still, they won 19 games, put themselves in position to make the NCAA Tournament.

They played ridiculously hard. Both teams did. Iowa State led by eight early in the game. Kansas State led by one at halftime. Iowa State led by six in the second half. Kansas State led by eight with 7 minutes left. Iowa State tied the game with .05 seconds left. Kansas State led by six in the overtime.

Through it all, Ezell did not question why … she just kept making three-pointers, she scored 26. Then she fouled out.

“I was sitting on the bench with the perfect view,” she said. “And my head dropped because I thought it went back in …”

Kimberly Dietz, Kansas State’s leading scorer, the only senior starter for the Wildcats, did not see the shot. She had been running up the court in the first half, and her knee crumpled. The replays were painful to watch. She was helped into the tunnel and not seen again. The whole team buckled.

“I’m proud of our team,” Kansas State coach Deb Patterson said.

It was a proud performance. Imagine the shock — the Wildcats had willed themselves to a conference title, they were having a charmed season, and then in their first game in the tournament their best scorer and most experienced player got hurt. Sports will teach you some hard lessons.

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To reach Joe Posnanski, call 816-234-4361 or send e-mail to jposnanski@kcstar.com. For previous columns, go to KansasCity.com.