“We didn’t do a ton of talking or really any talking about last year because they’re a different team and we’re a different team than then,” he said. “There’s nothing really from last year other than they’re a really good team that’s going to come at us and we’ve got to be ready and go compete.” 

After heading into halftime 38-38, the Sabers were able to establish an 11-point lead with about five minutes left in the game. McGraw, who had four points at halftime due to the stifling defense by Drew Berkland, scored 13 of his team-high 17 points in the second half. “I relied on my teammates to give me more space (in the second half),” McGraw said. “We talked about it at halftime that I was being face guarded and not really being allowed to move a whole lot and we got into a better motion offense to spread things out.” 

The other big-time scorer to help establish that lead was sophomore Issac Snell, who scored nine of his 15 points in the second half. 

“He doesn’t play like a sophomore from a physicality standpoint and a confidence standpoint,” Dammann said. 

The offensive play from the backcourt put the Sabers in a position to beat No. 1-4a Wayzata, and it was the starting five, all seniors, that closed the game out. With 4:30 remaining, the Sabers led 73-64, and the Trojans started applying full-court pressure and fouling to extend the game. From that point on, the Sabers committed one turnover and missed one free throw. 

“That was really telling that we had our seniors out there just because last year, a game like that, I don’t know that we would’ve, I don’t think we missed a free throw in the last four minutes of that game. Last year we were not a very good free-throw shooting team at all. I think just that senior mentality and the confidence the guys had when they stepped up there was outstanding and they really did a great job putting the game away,” Dammann said. 

This is now back-to-back losses for the Trojans, but they’ve come by a combined seven points against No. 2-4A Park Center and No. 4-4A Shakopee. They were led by Carter Bjerke, who had a game-high 25 points and six rebounds.