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Duluth East uses buzzer-beater to down Osseo

By Luke Hanlon, SportsEngine, 02/20/20, 5:00PM CST

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The Greyhounds' Mattie Thompson pulled down a rebound with less than a second left, then tossed up the game winning shot.


Duluth East's Mattie Thompson scores the game winning basket in the final second of the game Thursday night helping the Greyhounds beat the Orioles 54-52 in Osseo. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

When you think of a buzzer-beater in basketball, what are the first images that pop into your head? Michael Jordan draining “The Shot” over Craig Ehlo? LeBron James hitting a running floater against the Raptors? Damian Lillard hitting a three from the logo over Paul George? 

All of these are examples of incredible feats of athleticism that are extremely pleasing to the eye. 

Not all buzzer-beaters are that aesthetically pleasing, but how a game-winning shot is made is far less important than simply making the shot. 

That rang true for Mattie Thompson and Duluth East tonight, as he hit a shot right at the buzzer to defeat Osseo 54-52. 

“In the final possession, I was expecting us to go to overtime, if you want my honesty,” Duluth East coach Rhett McDonald said about the final play, as the Greyhounds (20-4) got the ball with just over a minute left with the game tied 52-52. 


Duluth East’s Noah Paulson had a game and team high 23 points on the night, as the Greyhound’s went on to beat Osseo 54-52 Thursday night. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

First Report

Duluth East’s Mattie Thompson beat the buzzer to defeat Osseo 54-52 on Thursday night. 

Josh Ola-Joseph threw down a dunk to tie the game at 52-52 with a little over a minute remaining in regulation. Duluth East coach, Rhett McDonald, chose not to take a timeout and let his players decide the game. 

Most of the possession was spent draining the clock, as the Osseo defenders kept pressure on whoever was handling the ball. The offense started to look for a shot with about 10 seconds left, and it ended with a three-point attempt from Noah Winesett, which fell short of the basket and went into a mob of bodies. 

Mattie Thompson ended up with the ball, and with no time to react, he flung up a floater while falling away from the basket, appearing to get a shot off moments before the buzzer sounded. His flailing shot attempt found the bottom of the net, and the Greyhounds (20-4) escaped with a dramatic win. 

Thompson finished the game with nine points and three rebounds. The Greyhounds were led by Noah Paulson, who led the team with 23 points, six rebounds and two blocks; all team-highs. 

Ola-Joseph and Tariq Martin both led the Orioles (8-15, 2-9) with 13 points.


Osseo’s Tariq Henry had 13 points Thursday night in the Orioles 54-52 loss to the Greyhounds. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

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