Sub-section semis: Jaguars trail by 2 at halftime...and then a shocking loss

Against Wheaton/Herman-Norcross in the sub-section semifinal round in Morris, the Jaguars boys' basketball team is down 24-22 at halftime.

Video from the first half:


Head of steam built up in the second half fades... The Jaguars picked it up in the second half and built a lead as large as 7 points. With 8 minutes left, Trey Heinsius grabbed a steal and drove it in for a solo layup and B-B-E had a 46-39 lead.

Then it all went south...from the 8 minute mark until the 3-minute mark, the Jaguars did not make a single field goal. They managed three free throws in that span, but W/H-N drained three three-point shots along with two trips to the free throw line where they hit both...and suddenly the Warriors (17-8) are up 57-49 with 3 minutes to go.

James Kuefler hit a shot on the right block with 2:45 left, but the hole ended up too large to come out of with W/H-N up 57-51 at that point. Kuefler fouled out with 2:34 left, while the Warriors got two double bonus free throws. They scored later in the paint with 2:11 left to make it a 10-point game. W/H-N opened the door quite a bit for a comeback when they went 0-for-4 at the free throw line on two double-bonus opportunities with 1:26 and 1:12 left. They went 1-for-2 at the line with 61 seconds left, making it 62-51. At the other end of the court, everything the Jaguars put up glanced off of the rim.

With 57 seconds left, Brian Goodwin was fouled on a three-point shot and made all three free throws. It looked a little better at that point, down 62-54. With 48 seconds left we missed the front end of a bonus opportunity, but Trey Heinsius ripped down the rebound. We proceeded to miss two field goal shots, and the Warriors hit a free throw on the other end.

With 26 seconds left, Billy Borgerding drained a 10-foot floater to get it down to 7 points. W/H-N hit one of two double bonus free throws with 23 seconds left to make it an 8-point game. They again went 1/2 at the line on double bonus with 16 seconds left.

With 10 seconds left, Austin Imdieke nailed a three at the top of the key to make it a two-possession game. In high school ball, two possessions is doable in 10 seconds but next to impossible unless you are red hot at the three-point line.

With 8 seconds left, W/H-N again went 1/2 on double bonus for the game's final margin.

Final: W/H-N 66, B-B-E 59. The Warriors made 19 field goals in the game compared to 23 by the Jaguars. The difference was B-B-E going 11/19 at the free throw line compared to 24/33 by W/H-N. Inexplicably, the Warriors out-rebounded the Jaguars by a 32-27 margin.

No secret, stating the obvious...the Jaguars have to shoot better at the line, that's about all there is to say about it. That never really haunted them during the regular season, but it sure did tonight.

Battle Lake and Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley will tip off just shortly before 8:00pm. I hope everyone makes it home safely tonight. Tread lightly out there!!

Video is coming...I have to get some popcorn...maybe that will help with the pit in my stomach.

**Just released today: the Jaguars will compete in Section 5A next year...here's the other teams for the boys' basketball playoffs (similar or identical for the girls):
Ogilvie, Onamia, Parkers Prairie, Pine River-Backus, Royalton, Sebeka, Swanville, Upsala, Verndale, Browerville, East Central, Bertha-Hewitt, Eagle Valley, Hill City, Isle, Kimball Area, Menagha, Minisinaakawang Leadership Academy, Nevis and Northland.

Time to hit the road. In the second half, Battle Lake is up on C-G-B 62-28 with 10 minutes left in the game.