Does anyone think the NRHEG Panthers got a bit short-changed with their first-round state tournament draws?
They’re not alone.
Last week, the unseeded girls faced No.1 seed and eventual state champion Roseau before winning the consolation title.
On Wednesday, No. 2 seed St. Cloud Cathedral needed overtime to knock off unseeded NRHEG 70-59 in the boys’ Class AA quarterfinals at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.
A three-point basket by Benji Lundberg sent the game to overtime, but by then it was almost too late. Leading scorer Oakley Baker had fouled out in regulation — which ended in a 54-54 tie — and No. 2 scorer Tyler Raimann fouled out early in overtime.
The Crusaders led most of the game, with the Panthers pulling within 13-11 midway through the first half, which ended in a 27-22 Cathedral lead.
The Panthers, though, mounted a second-half comeback culminating with their first lead of the night, 40-39, on a Raimann free throw with 7:13 remaining.
The loss dropped the Panthers (28-3) into the consolation round Thursday at 8 p.m. at Concordia College in St. Paul. The Crusaders (27-4) moved on to Friday night’s semifinals.
Lundberg, a junior who finished with a team-high 18 points, described his game-tying three.
“They denied it with two guys, I got a good screen and got open,” he said. “Praise God, it went in.”
Lundberg said he’s looking forward to Friday’s consolation game.
“I’m not ready to look to next year yet,” he commented.
Baker, who finished with 16 points, said he was confident in telling his teammates to step up in overtime.
“That’s a good part of our team, we have other guys who can step up,” he said. “We take great pride in each other.”
Baker was one of four Panthers to foul out along with Raimann, Brady Agrimson and Jack Schultz. Lundberg and Chad Agrimson finished with four fouls apiece.
For the game, the Panthers were whistled for 29 fouls to 13 for the Crusaders.
“We play a physical defense out there,” said Baker. When you do that, you’re going to get some fouls. You just have to play through it.”
Perhaps a bigger difference was Cathedral’s 6-6 juniors Michael Schaefer and Mitchell Plompton, who combined for 54 points. Schaefer totaled 31 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks, Plompton 25 points, seven rebounds and three assists. They were a combined 20-for-22 at the free-throw line.
For the Panthers, Raimann finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks, Chad Agrimson nine points (all on threes), and Brady Agrimson three points.