When the Outlaws’ Trenton Neil stormed off the court and kicked his chair, it may have been the biggest impact he’d made all night, having taken just three shots.

Neil said he was venting frustration while leaving with his fifth personal foul. Unfortunately for Enterprise High School boys’ basketball, the tantrum amounted to nothing more than another technical foul that curbed any hope of further challenging Union High at the district tournament. The Outlaws were making a decent comeback Feb. 15 against the Bobcats. With more than six minutes remaining, Neil’s three-point basket cut a deficit that had once been 20 points down to eight. But his angry departure was the beginning of the end.

Lately, the team has made a habit of working against the odds, but the rollercoaster ride of a season concluded with a loss to Union, 55-40, in the first round of the Blue Mountain Conference tournament at the Pendleton Convention Center. Presumed to be finished after two months, the Outlaws squeaked into the playoffs with a fantastic three-week run. They ended the season with a 7-18 overall record, helped by five wins in eight games.

“We started playing real good when we played as a team,” Neil said. “We were getting everybody involved. But at the beginning of the year, you’d have though we didn’t want to play.”

Junior Matt Fisher led Enterprise scorers with 16 points, and freshman Kasey O’Leary had 12.

Union jumped Enterprise in the first half for a big lead. With seven three-point baskets, the Bobcats led 34-18 at the break. The Outlaws succeeded in fighting back. A minute remained in the third quarter when O’Leary scored a layup and added a bonus free throw to trim the deficit down to nine points. The Bobcats responded by going to their bench and bringing back starters, including Kaden Titus who had made three three-pointers in the first four minutes of the game. Soon after Neil’s three made it a 41-33 game early in the fourth, Union resumed control.

Just earning a spot in the tournament was a triumph in itself. A string of successes, combined with the collapse of the Irrigon and Weston McEwen teams, forced an unscheduled playoff Feb. 12 between Enterprise and Weston-McEwen. Playing at Elgin High School, the Outlaws were strong in the final minutes and won, 59-52.

Tied 41-41 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Outlaws proceeded to build a game-deciding lead, outscoring the Tiger Scots 9-2. Neil capped the run with a three-pointer. Neil finished the game with 23 points, while O’Leary had 14 points.

The Outlaws hope this season’s late run will carry over to 2008-09. Most of the team will return, except for senior Kyle Stewart, who earned all-conference, honorable mention honors. While several established players are expected back, younger boys including O’Leary, Matt Perren, Chaunce Galletly and Kyle Stangel were able to gain significant amounts of varsity playing time.

“Next year, we’re gonna do better,” Neil said. “It’s gonna be a good year.”