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Free throws after late foul lift DeLaSalle to another 3A section title over Orono

By HEATHER RULE, Special to the Star Tribune, 03/15/18, 9:00PM CDT

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In a game that mirrored last year's section final, the Islanders prevailed again, this time by an 80-78 margin.


DeLaSalle's Gabe Kalscheur (11) celebrated the first of his two three-pointers in the closing minutes that helped the Islanders to an 80-78 victory over Orono in the Class 3A Section 6 championship. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

With under a second left on the clock, DeLaSalle senior captain Christian Dickson went to the line for a pair of free throws in a tie game.

“You’ve got to leave everything on the court,” Dickson said. “And little things make the big things happen. That’s what I learned growing up.”

He made both shots to give the top-ranked and six-time defending state champion Islanders (24-4) the 80-78 victory over No. 4-ranked Orono in the Class 3A, Section 6 final Thursday at Chanhassen High School.

In a tight game filled with runs, the Spartans took a 12-point lead — the biggest of the game — at 69-57 with 4:47 to play. That’s when the Islanders’ experience kicked in. Senior and future Gophers player Gabe Kalscheur made three three-pointers to get them within two, within one and then tie the game with 13.9 seconds left.

The double-digit deficit wasn’t a problem for the experienced Islanders, who battled the Spartans in last year’s section final as well.

“We just preached in the huddle, ‘stay the course, continue to guard … and we’ll be able to capitalize,’ ” Islanders first-year coach Travis Bledsoe said.

Added Kalscheur, who scored a season-high 38 points, “When it came down to clutch moments, we know how to execute.”

The Spartans had one more chance after the free throws with 0.5 seconds left but couldn’t get a shot off in time.

The loss for Orono (23-6) stops its 17-game winning streak. Senior Max Bjorklund scored a season-high 28 points. The Spartans made 14 three-pointers in the game. Senior Jarvis Thomas Omersa finished with 16 points. He’s also headed to the Gophers. Coach Richard Pitino was in attendance Thursday.

“We made some big plays, and Gabe made three huge threes down the stretch with two or three guys on him,” Orono coach Barry Wohler said. “Fans got their entertainment’s worth, that’s for sure.”


Senior Christian Dickson lines up the first of his two free throws with less than a second to play that lifted DeLaSalle to an 80-78 victory over Orono. Dickson finished with 10 points. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

First report

It was the same venue and same pair of ranked teams from a year ago in the Class 3A, Section 6 final. Just like last year, the same team prevailed as well.

Top-ranked DeLaSalle (24-4) took down No. 4-ranked Orono 80-78 for another section crown Thursday at Chanhassen High School. The Islanders also defeated the Spartans by three points last year en route to their sixth consecutive Class 3A state title.

This was just as close. Just before time expired in a tie game, Orono’s Jarvis Thomas Omersa was called for a foul that sent DeLaSalle senior Christian Dickson to the line. He made both free throws to seal the victory for the Islanders.

The loss for Orono (23-6) snaps its 17-game winning streak.

DeLaSalle's Gabe Kalscheur scored a season-high 35 points. Thomas Omersa finished with 16 points; Orono senior Max Bjorklund finished with a season-high 28 points.

Check back later for more on the game.


Orono guard Colton Codute (3) went over Gabe Kalscheur on his way to two of his 17 points. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

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