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| Eli Rockett 18 points, 13 rebounds (photo by Jim Lindquist) |
Fridays in February don't seem to be working out so well.
Friday night in Richfield the Tigers lost a 77-75 Missota Conference decision to Holy Angels on a shot from the lane with seven seconds to play, an almost identical ending to last Friday night's 61-59 home loss to Red Wing.
The previous Friday saw Shakopee hit a shot at the buzzer to pull out a 67-66 win. Freaky Fridays indeed.
"It was an impressive comeback by our kids," Tiger coach Shane Wyandt said of the second half surge in Richfield, "but it wasn't the basket at the end that made the difference.
"We gave up too many second chance points and in the first half especially we didn't take care of the ball or defend the three very well."
The numbers bear out Wyandt's contention. The Stars bruised the Tigers with 16 offensive rebounds, most leading to easy baskets or free throw opportunities.
The visitors committed 10 of their 18 turnovers in the first half and the defense allowed seven three-pointers that enabled the Stars to hit the break with a 39-29 lead.
"It wasn't so much our half court defense," Wyandt said. "We just weren't getting back fast enough. They (Holy Angels) were getting the ball out in transition and finding the open man."
The Farmington deficit stayed in the six-to-eight points range through the early going in the second period until the Stars used a spurt to build their lead to 56-42 with eight minutes to play.
From there on it was the Tigers who put on the pressure, using their own full-court pressure and transition game to get back in it.
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| Darren Beenken 22 points, 9 rebounds (photo by Jim Lindquist) |
Nick Varner started the last-ditch rally with a basket and Darren Beenken followed with a three-pointer and a pair of free throws to make it 75-73 with 43 seconds left.
The Tigers forced a turnover and then after a timeout executed a perfect high-low pass from Varner to a driving Eli Rockett to tie the game.
Holy Angels responded with drive to the hoop and the game-winner fell with six seconds remaining. Zach Speikers heaved up a prayer at the buzzer but it didn't draw iron.
"We could have called timeout after we tied it, but the thought was the momentum was with us and let's play it out," Wyandt said. "They got the penetration and hit the shot."
Beenken and Rockett each had strong outings in the losing effort. Beenken netted a team-high 22 points and pulled down nine rebounds while Rockett put together a double-double with 18 points and 14 boards.
Mac Bassett and Speikers also finished in double figures for Farmington with 14 and 10 points respectively. Varner scored eight points and handed out a team-high four assists.
The loss flattened out the Tigers season record at 11-11 and dropped them to 4-6 in the Missota Conference with four league games remaining.
The first comes next Tuesday when Northfield invades Tiger Gym. Farmington beat the Raiders 75-54 when the teams met last month in Northfield.
