Southern had just scored a basket to tie Heartland High at 39 with about eight seconds left. It looked like the two teams were headed for overtime number four.

But not just yet. There were still a few seconds left.

"I always tell our kids if there are five seconds or more, don't call a time out," Heartland coach Joe Lundstrom said. "That way the defense can't get set. That's what we did."

The Huskies brought the ball down fast and got the ball to Ned Geortzen. Southern was watching Geortzen and fellow standout Eric Ehmen closely, so Geortzen found teammate Jamison Holstein wide open under the basket.

Holstein laid the ball in just before the buzzer to give the Class C-2 No. 2-rated Huskies (Omaha World-Herald) a 41-39 victory.

"It was amazing," Lundstrom said. "Jamison Holstein had missed a couple of easy shots early in the game. To come back to hit the game winner for the conference championship, I'm just so happy for that kid. I couldn't stop hugging him."

It was the second straight conference tournament title for the Huskies, who are now 17-1 on the season and have won 12 straight games since a loss to Lincoln Lutheran on Jan. 4.

"For the past year, a big goal for them was to win back-to-back conference tournaments," Lundstrom said. "That's tough to do in this conference. It's a credit to the kids and how hard they've worked."

The Huskies entered the season with high hopes, and it's easy to see why. Geortzen, Ehmen and Kellen Geortzen had all started since they were freshmen.

Throw in fellow seniors Wade Janzen, Cory Gabeheart and Holstein and you have a team loaded with experience.

"These kids have been playing together forever," Lundstrom said. "They're just a fun group to coach. In four years of coaching, I haven't had one talk back. They're just amazing kids."

Ned Geortzen and Ehmen have been the leaders for the Huskies.

Geortzen averages 19 points a game with Ehmen chipping in about 18.5

In the conference tournament semifinals, a 58-43 victory over David City, Ehmen led the way with 35 points.

"The greatest thing about those two is that they are the two most unselfish players you'll ever coach," Lundstrom said. "They'd rather make a good pass for a layup than score."

Gabeheart is also an interesting story. Lundstrom says he would have been a four-year starter for the Huskies, but broke his leg three different times and missed his first three seasons.

"He's just another kid who never quits," Lundstrom said. "The doctors even advised him not to play and he's still out there doing it."

The Huskies, who currently stand third in wildcard points, are hoping that they can keep doing it right into the state tournament, but there is a tough road ahead of them to make it to Lincoln.

Their subdistrict includes C-2 No. 3 Deshler (16-1) along with Sandy Creek, Superior (4-12), Sutton (10-7) and Thayer Central (7-9).

If Heartland gets through that, they could face a rematch with C-2 No. Southern (15-3).

It would be the school's first trip to the state tournament since it went as Henderson High School 15 years ago in 1993.

"That's what we're working for," Lundstrom said of a possible trip to the state tournament. "We know no one is going to give it to us. We'll have to work for it.

"That district is tough. Anybody that gets out of it is going to be lucky."

Bob Hamar is the boys basketball writer for The Independent.