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Springfield wins semis in OT

By Amelia Rayno, Star Tribune, 03/25/11, 7:00PM CDT

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Tigers advance to title game for first time in program's history


The Chisholm bench was dejected in the final seconds of overtime. Bruce Bisping, Star Tribune

A game in which each side struggled mightily from the free throw line boiled down to free throws, and Springfield found success when it mattered.

The Tigers rammed through the final minutes of regulation and pulled away in overtime, sliding by Chisholm 63-55 in Target Center to make it to the Class 1A title game for the first time in program history.

“We have a little bit of swagger about us,” said Jesse Kieper, who made five free throws in the final minute. “We just know how to play in big games and step up. We overcame adversity at the end. I was in awe.”

Springfield jumped to a six-point lead on a 12-point first-half performance by Alex Fink. But the Bluestreaks sprung back, tying it three minutes before the break on consecutive three-pointers from Beau Buncich.

Chisholm went into the second half up by one, and neither team created much distance. Kieper hit three-pointers a minute apart to put Springfield up by two with three minutes left, but the drama was far from over.

Chisholm held a four-point advantage with 50 seconds remaining, and coach Bob McDonald made the decision to go into a delay, but his team missed three of six free throws in the final minute.

“That was the worst decision I made,” he said. “We thought if we could get to the line, it would cement the victory. Well, somebody put salt in the cement and it didn’t set very well.”

With Chisholm’s lead shriveled to two points with 3.6 seconds on the clock, Fink — stellar all year from the line — made two free throws to send the game into overtime.

“I wouldn’t rather have anybody else on the line but Alex at the end,” Springfield coach Lance Larson said.

In overtime, Cody Milbrath made a pair of free throws and followed with a rebound on the following possession to put the Tigers up by three, and Springfield hit seven of eight free throws in the final minute.

“They’re going to play until there’s no time left on the clock,” Larson said of the team that has played in four overtime games this season. “I’m really proud that we battled — and maybe didn’t play our best game — but worked hard enough to obviously win at the end.”

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