11 points, 10 rebounds vs. Mayo
Farmington fans watching their team's 72-68 loss to Rochester Mayo Tuesday, Dec. 21, at Tiger Gym had to be thinking that at any moment their team would put together a little run and pull out a victory over their Section 1 rivals.
But every time the locals looked like they would make that surge, including when they took their only lead of the game at 37-36 on Elliott Fenske's runner in the lane, the Spartans had an answer.
Sometimes it was a lay-up behind the Tiger defense. Other times it was an offensive rebound or a timely three-pointer. Down the stretch it was string of free throws. It was always something.
"That's the first time this season that I've been really disappointed in our play," Tiger coach Shane Wyandt said. "I think our kids will tell you they were flat in the first half. No energy. No aggressiveness.
"We played hard, especially in the second half, but the three things we know we have to be good at to be successful--shooting the ball, taking care of the ball and controlling the defensive boards--we didn't do well tonight."
The Tigers were slow out of the gate, falling behind by as many as seven points, before pulling to within four at 32-28 at intermission on Darren Beenken's three-pointer and Alex Michels' put-back at the end of the half.
Fenske's go-ahead basket with 14 minutes to play brought the Tigers all the way back but on the return trip down the floor Mayo's Michael Idso drained a three-pointer to give the visitors a lead they would never surrender.
"We gave them too many easy baskets and turned the ball over too many times," Wyandt said. "We knew this was going to be a dog fight and that's exactly what it was."
Farmington cut the Mayo lead to four points several times over the final three minutes but the Spartans eventually sealed the win from the foul line where they scored their last eight points.
Free throw opportunities proved to be another sore point for the home team. Mayo made 16 of 29 at the line while the Tigers had only six attempts, making three.
Michels finished with a season-high 23 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead Farmington. Josh Ruthenbeck also put together a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Austin Bassett and Beenken each chipped in with nine points and Fenske added seven for the Tigers who lost for the third time in five games.
The Tigers resume play after Christmas when they take on state-rated Eastview Tuesday, Dec. 28, in the opening round of the four-team Hastings Holiday Tournament. Host Hastings and Mahtomedi also play in the two-day tourney.
