It was only a year ago that Elliot Kane was hitting 3-pointers for Maple Grove, trying his best to get the Crimson to state.

What a difference a year makes.

Kane, now a junior for rival Osseo, put a dagger into his old team, scoring 14 points in the Orioles' 55-43 win against Maple Grove on Tuesday in the Section 5AAAA semifinal at Rogers High School.

"It felt pretty good," said Kane said who was serenaded with boos all night from his former schoolmates.

Every possession the Crimson student section was waiting for Kane to touch the ball. When he did they greeted him with an applause that would not be classified as polite.

"You hear it, but only for a little bit," Kane said. "You are out there talking with your team, so you are able to block it out."

"It shows you a lot about his perseverance as a player and an individual," Osseo senior Wheeler Blake said. "He's out there getting booed, and he is hitting those shots. It inspires you to pick up your game."

Baker was not shabby himself, especially in the second half. He ended up with 12 points and knocked in a big 3-pointer, which helped stretch Osseo's lead to as much as 14 points.

"He was a little off in the first half," Orioles coach Tim Theisen said. "but he is one of the best shooter's in the state and made some big shots for us in the second. We rely a lot on our senior leadership and he was one of those guys that led us."

Osseo began the night with an 8-0 run, but the Crimson stormed back and took a 25-21 halftime lead.

Crimson big-man Reed Nikko was already in double-digits, and Brad Davidson was starting to roll in distributing the ball to Nikko, who made two rim-rocking dunks that sent the Maple Grove student section in a frenzy.

"Reed Nikko is a player that really benefits well from his teammates getting him the ball," Theisen said. "Guys find ways to get him looks, and he is a player that is not going to miss inside. We stress defense every game and we just had to play better against him in the second half."

That mission was accomplished, more so because of Baker's defense on Davidson.

Davidson was able to run his normal offense in the first, but Baker tightened up in the second.

Known for his quickness with the ball, Baker put that attribute to his defensive arsenal and did not let Davidson find his stride.

"The last time he ran all over," Baker said. "It was a pride issue for me and for Osseo to make sure that he did not do that again."

"He was all over him and did a great job," Kane said of Baker's defense. "It was awesome to see."

Osseo will take on top-seeded Champlin Park in the Section 5AAAA final on Friday at Rogers High School.

"That is all we wanted, to have was a chance to go to state, and we have that," Theisen said. "What a great opportunity for our program."

"This is why I decided to come here," Kane said. "I wanted a chance to go to state."