Team-high 14 points vs. Northfield
Farmington convereted five of eight free throws in overtime to eke out a 50-49 Missota Conference win over Northfield Friday night, Jan. 21, at Tiger Gym.
The squeaker was the second straight for the Tigers who beat Holy Angels 44-43 on Sebren Baer's jumper at the buzzer on Tuesday.
Farmington made hard work of its second win in three conference games, squandering a 13-point halftime lead and needing a last minute rally in regulation to force the extra session.
"In the first half we were working the ball inside-out and knocking down shots," Tiger coach Shane Wyandt said. "We were also getting some offense from our transition game."
Austin Bassett scored nine points and Baer and Alex Michels added eight apiece in the first half to give the home team a seemingly comfortable 31-18 halftime lead.
But the Raiders cranked up the defense after intermission and the Tigers shooting eye went blind. Farmington made only four field goals in the second half while scoring just 14 points.
Northfield held a seven-point lead with fewer than four minutes to play but this time it was the Tigers who picked themselves up off the mat. Darren Beenken's three-pointer from the corner gave the locals a one-point lead before the visitors tied it to force overtime.
In the extra period Farmington scored all five of its points from the line, two apiece by Bassett and Baer and one by Michels. The Raiders had the final possession but a hasty 20-footer failed to draw iron.
Wyandt said his team's second half meltdown showed its need to be more consistent in its half-court offense but added the win was still a positive step for his mostly inexperienced squad.
"A year ago we probably would have lost this game," Wyandt said. "Winning like we did on Tuesday gave us some confidence we could do it again. We got all the loose balls down the stretch. We really hustled our way back into it."
Michels led the Tigers with 14 points with Bassett and Baer pitching in with 11 and 10 respectively. Beenken finished with eight.
The Tigers face two of the top teams in the Missota this week, traveling to Chaska on Tuesday, Jan. 25, and hosting New Prague Friday night at Tiger Gym.
