Boys basketball: Rebel rally comes up short
Published 11:16 pm Tuesday, March 7, 2017
- Southland’s Carl Mueller pulls up for a shot in the first half against Faribault BA during a Section 1A West semfinal matchup Tuesday night in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
ROCHESTER — The No. 2 seeded Southland boys basketball team fought its way back from a 14-point deficit, but it ran out of adrenaline in overtime as it had its season come to an end in a 67-60 loss to No. 3 Faribault Bethlehem Academy in the Section 1A West semifinals in Mayo Civic Center Tuesday.
Jared Landherr had 30 points in the loss for Southland, which scored just two points in the extra session as FBA pulled away.
Southland’s Chris Webber pushes past Faribault BA’s Alex Bongers during the first half of their Section 1A West semifinal matchup Tuesday night in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“It’s really hard. The seniors had to experience losing here last year and it’s really hard that they had to experience it again,” Landherr said. “I think some of us might have been a bit nervous [early on], but we got back into it and we kept fighting and that was all we could do.
The Cardinals (16-11 overall) led by as many as 14 points in the first half and they held a 56-49 lead with five minutes left in regulation. From that point that Rebels (14-9 overall) rattled off nine straight points to take their first and only lead of the game. Chris Webber drove to tie the game at 56-56 with two minutes left and Thomas Bottema put Southland up 58-56 when he hit a 15-foot jump shot with 1:07 left in regulation.
Southland’s Lee Wilson gets a lay-up in the first half against Faribault BA in a Section 1A West semfinal matchup Tuesday night in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
After a steal, Southland missed the front end of a one-and-one at the free throw line and FBA tied the game at 58-58 when Avery Hunt scored on a put-back with 8.4 seconds left. Southland’s Garret Mullenbach had a game-winning look rim out at the buzzer.
The Rebels also had some good looks at the hoop in OT, but they couldn’t connect.
“We just didn’t make shots in overtime,” Southland head coach coach Matt Webber said. “We want to be aggressive and it’s not us to sit and stall. They were great shots and they just didn’t fall.”
The Rebels had been 5-1 in games that were close down the stretch before Tuesday’s loss, but they couldn’t keep up the magic. Webber said he was pleased with how his team battled until the final whistle.
“This team never quit fighting. Those kids grew big time this year,” Webber said. “We had a good season and some kids are going to have to work hard to get us back up there.”
Bottema finished with 10 points, four rebounds and five assists.
Southland’s Parker Brigham breaks to the basket during the second half against Faribault BA in a Section 1A West semfinal matchup Tuesday night in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
FBA 38 20 9 — 67
Southland 30 28 2 — 60
Southland scoring: Jared Landherr, 30; Thomas Bottema, 10; Chris Webber, 8; Lee Wilson, 4; Carl Mueller, 4; Parker Brigham, 2; Bret Matthews, 2; free throws: 50 percent (10-for-20); rebounds: 32 (Brigham, 6); turnovers: 9
Southland’s Jared Landherr skies over Faribault BA players during the first half Tuesday night in a Section 1A West semfinal matchup in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
