Shakopee junior guard Evan Hagen apologized to reporters Wednesday after the Sabers’ thrilling victory for being “a little out of it right now.”

Without Hagen, Shakopee wouldn’t have been in it. Each of Hagen’s six points in the second half was clutch. He closed a back-and-forth contest with Osseo by draining two free throws with two seconds remaining in a 54-51 victory in the Class 4A quarterfinal at Target Center.

Sabers leading scorer Tyler Weiss was held to two points but Hagen (16 points), Steffon Mitchell (18) and Booker Coplin (10) all stepped up.

Shakopee’s lead swelled to 10 points in the first half but No. 4 Osseo (22-8) never quit. Elliot Kane’s three pointer gave the Orioles a 43-41 lead. Mitchell answered by making a shot, drawing the foul and hitting the free throw to complete a three-point play.

That put No. 5 seed Shakopee (23-6) ahead 44-43 but the lead would change eight times through the game’s final eight minutes and 12 seconds.

“That was probably the most intense game I’ve ever played in,” Hagen said. “That was the biggest student section we’ve ever had. It was crazy.”

Leading 52-51, the Sabers watched as Osseo’s Wheeler Baker, one of five finalists for Mr. Basketball, launched a three-pointer with four seconds remaining. A relieved Hagen grabbed the rebound, got fouled then made both free throws.

“Just last week our girls team lost on a half-court buzzer-beater so we were thinking, ‘Don’t let something like that happen to us,’” Hagen said.

DAVID LA VAQUE

Osseo vs Shakopee Photo Highlight Video. Photos by Brian W Nelson

First report

Shakopee survived a back-and-forth game to outlast fourth-seeded Osseo 54-51 and advance to Thursday's Class 4A semifinal game against top-seeded Hopkins.

Evan Hagen's shot gave No. 5 seed Shakopee a 52-51 lead it would not relinquish.

Check back later for more details.
 


PHOTO GALLERY: Shakopee 54, Osseo 51