Isaac Matthews called it “the biggest rebound of my life.” Then he turned it into the biggest basket.

Matthews tipped in Quinton Hooker’s miss just before overtime’s buzzer to give Park Center a 74-72 victory over Lakeville North in the Class 4A boys’ basketball quarterfinals Wednesday at Target Center.

The 6-4 junior forward reserve waited on the baseline as Hooker, the Pirates’ senior leader, prepared for a second game-winning attempt.

“When the ball goes up, I find it.” Matthews said. “I saw it come off the rim and I tipped it in.”

Lakeville North’s JP Macura grabbed his face after the ball fell from the net into his hands. The junior had nearly rallied his team from a 19-point deficit to upset the No. 2 seed. His NBA-range three-pointer with 1:37 left in overtime gave the Panthers (23-7) their first lead.

Both the Pirates (27-3) and Panthers had a chance to win in regulation. But Hooker missed his try and Lakeville North’s Grant Erickson was called for a charge on the return.

“We kept chipping and got it down to the end of the game, but unfortunately they won,” Macura said. “I think we played how we wanted to.”

In the first half, Park Center used its athleticism to build its big lead. Treyton Daniels (16 points, 10 rebounds), Joshua Matthews, and Hooker (29 points, 10 rebounds) held Macura without a field goal until 6:28 remained in the half.

Park Center’s Devin Buckley also had 11 rebounds and 10 points.

Once Macura started scoring, though, so did his teammates. Connor Flack (17 points, eight rebounds) and Zach Creighton (12 points, seven rebounds) did most of the Panthers’ scoring in the final four minutes of regulation.

“Isaac was there to save me,” Hooker said. “We started to relax a little bit and [Macura] found his way to get open in the second half and knock down shots. When it came down to it in overtime, we buckled down and got some stops.”

1. Isaac Matthews (Park Center) - He only had 5 points and 3 rebounds, not exactly glaring out at you on the sheet, but he did tip in the game winner in OT and that makes him our #1 star today. He also hit 1 of 2 free throws to tie the game in OT to give them the chance to withhold a Lakeville North posession and give the Pirates the chance to win. 

2. Quinton Hooker (Park Center) - Senior Quinton Hooker did have a game that was eye popping on the score sheet. He had a game high 29 points, most of them pull up jumpers that he created for himself. Hooker also pulled down 10 rebounds for the double double and dished out 4 assists. 

3. JP Macura (Lakeville North) - Macura hit 3 three's in the second half and led Lakeville North to come back from a 19 point defecit. The junior has another year with the Panthers but his season ended today with 26 points and 7 rebounds. 

- Pete Heldstab, MN Basketball Hub