“Survival.”

The first word uttered by Hopkins boys’ basketball coach Ken Novak Jr. after his team outlasted Woodbury for an 82-75 overtime victory said a lot.

No. 1 ranked Hopkins, winners of the past three Class 4A state tournament titles, got 25 points from senior guard Siyani Chambers in Wednesday’s quarterfinal victory at the Target Center.

Chambers, a Star Tribune first-team All-Metro selection, scored 22 of his points from the free throw line. Conversely, Woodbury shot 50 percent as a team, missing the front ends of one-and-ones twice with about one minute remaining in regulation.

“Every game we’ve lost except for maybe one has been because of [missed free throws],” Woodbury coach Scott Swansson said. “I don’t know if it got to be a head thing or what.”

Chambers kept his head clear despite missing a jump shot that would have won the game in regulation. He acknowledged making a “mental error” when he did not drive to the basket.

All was forgiven as Chambers went a perfect 10-of-10 on his free throw attempts in overtime.

“We’ve got Siyani and he’s our leader,” said senior guard Demetrius Martin, who led Hopkins with 17 first half points. “He brought us all together and let us know we’re still in this and not to give up.”

DAVID LA VAQUE, Star Tribune

Siyani Chambers, Hopkins
While the rest of his team was crumbling against the Woodbury defensive pressure, Chambers put the whole team on his back and then some. Not only did he go on a 10-0 run to start overtime by himself, he also went 22 of 24 from the free throw line. Walking with a noticeable limp and looking tired late in the game, Chambers went right at the star duo Suggs brothers for Woodbury leading to their both fouling out less than one minute into overtime.