Huskies Win on Last-Second Shot

Owatonna was up 67-66 over Mankato West Monday night with 00.0 on the clock but the game wasn't over. The Huskies' boys basketball bench erupted over the apparent final play of the game. But the officials put :00.9 back on the clock. That was enough time for West to throw a half-court inbound, get a dribble and launch a shot that hit the rafters at OHS. The Huskies celebrated for real this time, a come-from-behind victory to open the final week of the regular season.

The 67-66 Owatonna lead stood as the final score.

Isaac Oppegard put back the game winner after a shot by Evan Dushek was short and Payton Beyer's tip-in attempt was a near miss. Oppegard's basket was just his second of the game. The other was a three a short time earlier as the Huskies were rallying from an eight-point second-half deficit.

Dushek led the Huskies with 21 points. Brayden Williams scored 13 and Beyer had 12. Rebounds were nearly dead-even and about 33 apiece. Dushek gathered at least ten of them. Free throw shooting was nearly exact. OHS went 8-for-14, while Mankato West was 8-for-15.

The Scarlets also had three players in double figures for scoring. Buom Jock scored 20, Mason Ellwein had 16, and Mehki Collins added 12 points and had at least nine boards.

The Huskies (14-10 overall, 13-8 Big Nine) will finish fifth in the conference standings. They finish the regular season Friday hosting Northfield (8-17, 71-4) with radio coverage on Kat Kountry 105 FM due to action from the state wrestling tournament on AM 1390 KRFO. Mankato West is 6-18 overall and 4-17 in conference games.

Section seedings for 1AAAA will be announced Saturday morning. Farmington and Owatonna currently are fourth and fifth in the QRF rankings for the section, in a virtual tie for a home playoff game.