Osseo's Emmette Paige (3) dunks on a breakaway in the first half against Park Center in the Class 4A, Section 5 championship game Friday at Rogers. Photo: DAVID JOLES • david.joles@startribune.com
On paper, the Class 4A, Section 5 final looked like a mismatch: Top-seeded Park Center — long and athletic and talented — against Osseo, the No. 3-seed with no player taller than 6-3.
But Osseo had been in big games before and knew there was more to winning basketball than simply physical skill. They showed as much, playing gritty defense and working tirelessly on offense to emerge with a 61-57 victory Friday at Rogers High School.
“We are really short,” Osseo coach Tim Theisen said. “They might be 6-2, but they play like they’re 6-6. Our guys never quit. We don’t pass the eye test, but these guys play much bigger than what they are.”
Photo gallery: Osseo vs. Park Center
It was the third game between the Northwest Suburban Conference rivals, having split the first two. The last one, a 14-point Park Center victory, factored in Friday’s result.
Osseo (23-6) kept finding openings behind Park Center’s defense for easy baskets, a change from the last game.
“They were pressing us, so we did get easy looks at the basket,” Theisen said. “The last time we played them, that didn’t happen.”
The Orioles’ defense made life miserable for the Pirates. Park Center’s 6-9 sophomore Dain Dainja was repeatedly moved off the low block, where he’s most effective, as Osseo made Park Center (24-5) beat them from the outside.
“We wanted to take away the inside game first and let them shoot from the outside,” Theisen said.
Richard Mulbah and Johnson Fallah scored 13 points apiece for Osseo and guard Zach Theisen added 12.
The victory was particularly sweet for Theisen, the coach’s son, who missed Osseo’s 2016 state tournament appearance with a broken foot. He missed time this season with a knee injury late in the regular season.
“That was 10 games ago and I was thinking ‘Wrong time again,’ ” he said. “It’s a little sore, but not right now, with all the adrenaline. This feels great.”
First report
Combining an efficient motion offense that repeatedly found open shots with an inspired defensive effort, Osseo held off No. 1-seeded Park Center 61-57 on Friday in the Class 4A, Section 5 championship game.
Richard Mumbah and Johnson Fallah had 13 points apiece and Zach Theisen added 12 for Osseo (23-6), which advances to the Class 4A state tournament for the second time in the last three seasons.
Jarius Cook led Park Center (24-6) with 23 points in the game played at Rogers High School.
Check back later for more on the game.
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