Yet the Fire were able to turn the tides midway through the first half, thanks to some hot shooting from guard Kole Hanson. The junior knew he was putting on a show too, turning around with a smirk every time he saw the ball go in. He finished the game 9-for-13 from the field, good for a game-high 29 points. 

However, in the second half things started to take a turn for the Fire when leading scorer and Butler commit Boden Kapke fouled out on a charge call. Burger knew he had to get the rest of the team to step up. 

“Anytime you have a Mr. Basketball finalist foul out with 10 minutes left (it’s difficult),” Burger said. “But our guys just came back and battled. To get a 12-point win, against a very tough North team, I just couldn’t be more proud.” 

Kapke’s replacement, senior Paul Dorr, stepped up in dramatic fashion. Despite racking up three early fouls, the forward played smart defense down the stretch and helped offensively with seven points. Dorr became the catalyst for the final defensive push for the Fire, keeping the score just out of reach for the Polars. 

“We’ll share it in film sessions, he’s just always in the right place, right time,” Burger said. “He’s always making hustle plays, he’s always getting his hands on a ball. And tonight, I mean—that corner three was huge.”

Burger knew the Polars would try to ride newfound optimism with the Kapke no longer a factor to close out the game.

“If you’re North, you’re looking at Kapke fouling out and think, ‘where are they going to now?’” Burger said. “Well, we had #11 come in and knock one down in the corner along with some putbacks.” 

A surge from the Polars (21-9) brought the pressure on late. However, they couldn’t capitalize on that run. It was a lack of made threes, along with unnecessary turnovers that cost the Polars. The Fire (27-2) were able to pull away to clinch the game and with it the Class 2A, Section 5 title. Now they prepare for the hunt of a state title, starting with the draw this weekend. 

“Honestly, it’s special to watch a group of 18 guys all just genuinely happy for one another, celebrating a win like that,” Burger said. “It’s why you coach…Shared celebration for teenagers doesn’t come around often enough and what we just witnessed with the cutting down of the nets and all that, it makes coaching so worth it.”