State A Semifinal Fertile-Beltrami vs West Central Area

Recap

State A Semifinal Fertile-Beltrami vs West Central Area

Minneapolis, MN — The Fertile-Beltrami Falcons defeated the West Central area Knights on Friday afternoon in triple overtime 84-75 to advance to the State Class A Boys Basketball Championship Game.

The first 18 minutes of the game was an absolute grind for both teams. F-B would lead easy 8-5 before WCA would go on a 7-0 run to take a 12-8 lead with 12 minutes to go in the half. The rest of the half would be back and forth and eventually see the Falcons take a 26-20 lead into the locker room. In the second half, Fertile-Beltrami would take their largest lead at that point 37-31 with 7:46 to play. WCA would make another 7-0 run to take a one point lead. As an already tense game began to wind down, at the four minute mark, the life from Fertile-Beltrami was taken away as Senior Caiden Swenby fouled out of the game. The WCA pressure would ramp up even more forcing Masen Nowacki, Bryer Strem and Derek Sorenson to take care of the basketball as the primary ball handlers. The Falcons took care of the basketball down the stretch and enjoyed a 51-48 with 16.1 seconds to play. WCA had one final shot to extend the game. With four seconds left on the clock, Knights Senior Mitch Dewey launched a deep 3-pointer that banked in and forced the game to overtime.

The Falcons and Knights would duke it out for three overtime periods. Fertile-Beltrami had their backs up against the wall with just 12 seconds left in the first overtime trailing 60-57. Masen Nowacki would drill a right wing 3-pointer to tie the game 60-60. WCA had an outstanding look for the win the other way, but their attempt wouldn’t fall and we would play on to a second OT.

Much like the first frame of extra basketball, neither team could secure any solid momentum to balloon a lead. The deficit was never more than two points and to a third overtime the game went knotted 67-67.

In the third overtime, Fertile-Beltrami was clutch. They hit 10-11 free throws and finally put together multiple stops on defense and productive offensive possessions to take at one point an eight point lead. Efforts by WCA came up short as their legs began to get tired and Fertile-Beltram would win the game of the year 84-75 to advance to the State Championship.

Fertile-Beltrami will take on the Cherry Tigers on Saturday morning at 11 am at Williams Arena. Live game coverage on Gold 101.5 FM KRJM with a 10:30 am pregame show at 11 am tip off.

comments from FB coach Neil Steffes

comments from Caleb Stoltman

comments from Derek Sorenson

comments from Mason Nowacki

game stats via mshsl.org 2024 BBB A SF FB WCA