29 points, 11 rebounds vs. Spring Lake Park
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Spring Lake Park countered a career performance by Tiger senior Alex Michels with an aggressive full-court defense and some red-hot three-point shooting to post a 77-64 come-from-behind win over Farmington Saturday, Jan. 8, in Spring Lake Park.
The visitors took the game to the athletic Panthers for the first 12 minutes of the opening half before things started to go south.
Farmington led 29-21 with 5:08 remaining in the opening period thanks in large part to multiple defenses and an ability to handle the opposition's defensive pressure.
"We did everything we wanted to do for most of the first half," coach Shane Wyandt said. "We attacked their press. We knocked down our shots and we kept them off balance by our mixing things up on defense. I don't think they were ready for that."
The Panthers closed the half on a tear, however, outscoring their guests 13-4 down the stretch to take a 34-33 lead. Junior forward Sean Scott was a one-man wrecking crew for the home team, scoring 18 first half points, including eight straight in the closing run.
Michels finished the half with 11 points and Darren Beenken chipped in with six to lead Farmington.
Michels scored the first basket of the second half to give his team back the lead but Robert Ben countered on the next possession and Spring Lake Park never trailed again.
"The things that started going bad for us were the things we couldn't afford to let happen," Wyandt said. "We turned the ball over too much, got in foul trouble and they started hitting from the perimeter."
The Panthers finished the contest hitting nine of their 18 shots from behind the arc and limited the Tigers to just two baskets from long range.
Michels carried a heavy load on offense in the second half, scoring 18 of his team's 31 points for a game total of 29. Beenken added six points to give him an even dozen but no other Tiger managed more than five.
"In the games we've won we have gotten points from other places to go with Al," Wyandt said. "Today we didn't get that."
Michels also pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds and received some positive words from his coach.
"Al had a tough night at Harding on Thursday, but he came back big-time today," Wyandt said. "He is a very good basketball player."
Farmington (4-6) plays its final non-conference game Tuesday, Jan. 11, against Prescott, Wisconsin, at Tiger Gym. Friday night the Tigers entertain Shakopee in their Missota Conference opener.
