Vance's Vengeance: Olympians Steal Thriller in Chicago 104-103 on Buzzer-Beater Triple
Vance's Heroics Sink Wolves in Nail-Biter
By Sarah Chen
CHICAGO – The Athens Olympians snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on Saturday, stunning the Chicago Wolves 104-103 in a World Pro League thriller that came down to the final possession. It was Priya Vance’s clutch three-pointer with no time left on the clock that sealed the dramatic win, sending the partisan Chicago crowd into stunned silence and the Olympians bench into a frenzy.
The game was a back-and-forth affair from the opening tip, with neither team able to establish a significant lead for long. The Wolves, playing at home, seemed to have all the momentum in the closing minutes, with Jian Zhao and Jett Alcantara providing key scoring bursts. A Jasper Greene three-pointer with just under a minute remaining had Chicago up by two, and the defense tightened.
However, the Olympians, led by the stellar play of Priya Vance who poured in a game-high 30 points, refused to fold. After a Wolves turnover, Athens had one final opportunity. Chloe Lee, who contributed 12 points and a game-high 8 rebounds, found Vance open on the wing, and she coolly drained the triple as the buzzer sounded, completing a remarkable comeback.
“We never give up,” said Vance, beaming after the game. “This team has so much heart. We knew if we could just get one stop, one good look, we had a chance. I’m just happy the shot went in.”
For the Wolves, it was a gut-wrenching loss. Julian Santos was a force in the paint, tallying 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Olympians’ late-game heroics. “It’s a tough one to swallow,” admitted Wolves head coach David Miller. “We played hard, we executed for stretches, but they made the big play when it mattered most. We’ll learn from this.”
Key Notes:
- Priya Vance led all scorers with 30 points, including the game-winning three.
- Julian Santos stuffed the stat sheet for Chicago with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.
- Chloe Lee was a dominant presence on the glass for Athens, grabbing 8 rebounds.
- The Olympians shot a more efficient 43.8% from the field compared to the Wolves’ 40.8%.
- Athens committed only 7 turnovers to Chicago’s 9, showcasing superior ball security.