(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Darren Beenken exploded for 34 points as the Tigers downed Burnsville 79-68 Thursday afternoon in the third place game of the Hastings Holiday Classic tournament.
Farmington led by as many as eight points in a fast-paced first half but by intermission the Blaze had come all the way back to forge a 41-41 tie.
"It's been something that has happened to us a lot this season," Tiger coach Shane Wyandt said. "We are not used to playing with a lead and sometimes that shows."
Beenken went on a one-man scoring binge to open the second half and in the end that was the difference in the ball game.
After scoring 12 points in the opening half, The junior forward scored 18 of Farmington's first 20 points after the break to give his team a 61-52 lead. Included in the flurry were four three-pointers and a dunk.
"Darren had a great night," Wyandt said. "He came out shooting like that in the first half of the game against Mahtomedi yesterday but tonight he just kept it up...We ran just about every play we had trying to get him the ball."
The Tigers kept their lead near double digits most of the second period before the Blaze put on a closing rush to pull within four points in the final two minutes.
Senior forward Jacob Hanson came up big down the stretch, scoring six critical points, including draining four of five clutch free throws. Alex Chadwick and Johnny Dittman also hit a pair of free throws apiece in the closing seconds.
"Jake (Hanson) really gave us a lift," Wyandt said. "The big thing about those free throws was that he had missed a couple earlier in the game.
"I think overall the biggest thing to take out of this is that we found a way to close out the game. Once you do that, it's easier to do it next time."
Wyandt added his team still has to do a better job on the defensive end and cut down on its turnovers but the win was a big step in the right direction.
"They are doing what young teams do," he said. "They're learning."
Sophomore center Nick Varner had 15 points and Hanson finished with 10 to join Beenken in double figures for the winners.
Farmington (3-7) will close out its non-conference season the first week of the new year with games against section rivals. Tuesday they travel to Rochester Mayo and Thursday they entertain Owatonna at Tiger Gym.
