Fouling out of his team’s quarterfinal game against Fergus Falls relegated Columbia Heights starting point guard Quintin Hardrict to a cheerleading role Wednesday at Williams Arena.

Putting aside frustration, Hardrict supported teammates as Fergus Falls cut the Hylanders’ second-half lead from 20 points to just two. Despite the scare, Columbia Heights escaped with a 77-74 victory in the Class 3A quarterfinals.

"I knew that if we kept playing hard, making free throws and getting stops, that we would come away with a win,” said Hardrict, who scored 19 points before sitting down for good with 2:25 to play. “I was confident.”

So was No. 4 seed Fergus Falls (25-5). The Otters recaptured their shooting form after a 25 percent first-half showing. Matthew Monke’s three-pointer cut the Fergus Falls deficit to 70-68 with 1:05 left.

“We never gave up,” said Monke, who finished with 16 points. “Even down 20 we felt we could win because we’re a great shooting team.”

Junior forward Wendell Matthews carried the No. 5 seed Hylanders (22-8) late, scoring five of their final seven points.

“When we lost Q we lost a really good ball-handler and that really scared me,” Columbia Heights coach Willie Braziel said. “I just was hoping we could hang on and we did.”

DAVID LA VAQUE

Columbia Heights started well against Fergus Falls and survived a close finish in a 77-74 victory in the Class 3A quarterfinal Wednesday at Williams Arena.

With the victory, the Hylanders advance to play No. 1 seed DeLaSalle in the semifinals at noon on Thursday at the Target Center.

No. 5 seed Columbia Heights (21-8) handed the five-time defending state champion Islanders their last postseason loss back in 2011.

Check back later for more on the game.