The Browerville Tigers' basketball season came to an end at the hands of the Upsala Cardinals in the Sub-Section 5A West championship game last Tuesday night.  The Cardinals went on to defeat Barnum in the Section final and are headed to the MN State Tournament as the #2 seed in Class A.

The Tigers had a tough start falling behind by as much as 21 points in the first half.  Browerville's Mitchell Heid helped keep the Tigers in the game with a strong 12 point first half.  Only two other Tigers found their way to the scoring column as Kyle Petermeier scored 7, including 3 of 4 from the free throw line, and Brad Dreher put in 2 points.  A combination of good defense by Upsala and cold shooting by the Tigers marked the struggles of the first half.

Upsala made seven 3-pointers in the first half.  Andy Nelson came off the bench to make three of them.  The Tigers couldn't get much going offensively, but played good defense at times, but Upsala just had too much fire-power in the first half.  The teams headed to locker room with the score, Browerville 21, Upsala 38.

Browerville came out in the second half ready to work their way back into the game.  Petermeier scored quickly to start things out followed by a Dreher 3-pointer to close the gap to 12.  Two free throws by Upsala in exchange for two baskets by Heid and one by Petermeier, and all of sudden it was within 8 points for the Tigers.  Upsala's Pekarek scored on a 3-pointer and a layup.  Matt Abeler scored again for the Cardinals and suddenly the score was 47 – 32, Upsala.

Dreher again stepped outside the arc for another three point make.  Upsala again extended their lead back to 19 points, 56 – 37, with 6 ½ minutes to play.  Dreher scored again and was fouled.  He made the ensuing free throw and the Tigers began another attempt at a come-back.

Petermeier and Jordan Thielen each made 3-pointers and Heid was fouled shooting a 3-pointer and proceeded to make all three free throws.  The Tigers were within 7 points with 2:11 to go.  Upsala then needed to make free throws.  The Cardinals went on to make 12 of 15.  After three point baskets by Bryce Irsfeld and Dreher, the Tigers had clawed their way back to a 55 – 59 score.  Heid was again fouled shooting a three and made all 3 free throws again to stay within 4 points, 58 – 62.  Upsala continued making free throws.  Browerville's Irsfeld scored the Tigers' last basket from three point range to keep it within 4 points with :20 remaining.  Upsala finished out the scoring with three more from the charity stripe.  The final score, after an exciting finish, saw the Upsala Cardinals on top with a final score of 68 to 61.

Mitchell Heid finished the game leading all scorers with 22 points.  He also 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 4 assists.  Kyle Petermeier scored 16 points while pulling down 6 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists.  Brad Dreher finished with 14 points, and led in rebounding with 13.

The Tigers ended their season with an outstanding 24 – 3 record.  They were second in the Prairie Conference and were ranked as high as 6^th in the State Class A Polls.