State Boys Basketball: Huskies Upset on Late Three-Pointer

The Owatonna boys basketball squad lost a thriller to Cretin-Derham Hall 52-51 Tuesday afternoon at Target Center in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state tournament. The game featured a future Division I player, a Division II player, and a total of six players who average double-digits. But it was a junior who averages six points a game that hit the deciding shot.

Junior Adam Tauer connected on a three from the left corner with 22 seconds to go to lift the unseeded Raiders into the semifinals while relegating No. 2 seed Owatonna to the consolation round. OHS will play Moorhead at 12 pm Wednesday, March 23 at Concordia University in St. Paul with coverage on AM 1390 KRFO/94.7 FM.

Owatonna senior Brayden Williams barely missed a shot in the lane right afterward. He was charged with a foul following the miss, his fifth of the game. After two missed free throws, senior Ty Creger's heave from halfcourt at the buzzer hit the backboard, and the rim but fell off.

Williams, who is a Bemidji State commit, had hit a shot with 40 seconds left to give OHS a 51-49 lead after the Raiders created the seventh tie of the game with 1:03 remaining. The lead changed hands 11 ties in the back-and-forth battle.

The Raiders were just 2-for-17 on three-point attempts.

Evan Dushek led Owatonna with 17 points and eight rebounds. Creger scored 16 and grabbed eight boards. Williams scored 13 and was 1-for-2 on three-pointers. Collin Vick hauled in six rebounds, five of those on the offensive glass.

Cretin-Derham Hall finished as the state runner-up a season ago to Wayzata who they will play in the semifinals Thursday, March 24 at 8 pm on The Mighty 920 KDHL.

The Raiders were led by Mr. Basketball finalist Tre Holloman. The future Michigan State Spartan had 17 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals. Donavhan Cain scored 15. Brandon Melchior had ten points with seven rebounds.

See the full scoresheet from the Minnesota State High School League.

Attendance was fantastic with a huge crowd from Owatonna filling the lower bowl of Target Center from baseline to baseline. Both schools had an impressive student body on hand.

The tournament was extended to five days this year due to arena conflicts with Target Center. After Tuesday all the championship bracket games are at Williams Arena.

Class 4A quarterfinals at Target Center
Tuesday, March 22
No. 1 Park Center 74, Andover 60
No. 4 Eastview 67, No. 5 Eden Prairie 51
Cretin-Derham Hall 52, No. 2 Owatonna 51
No. 3 Wayzata 71, Moorhead 28