Lakeville South Boys Basketball Ends North’s Season

The standing room only crowd was electric, the toga-dressed student section was rowdy, and the game play was physical on Tuesday night between Lakeville North's and Lakeville South's boys basketball teams.     

The Cougar’s 57-47 victory seemed to be more than just a basketball game at times, with players plunging to the floor for loose balls like starving children skirmishing for scraps.   

This game was more than just another cross-town rivalry matchup. It was do or die, and the physical play was expected.

“Two games ago, when we played them in the Rotary Holiday Tournament, they played us extremely physical, and we weren’t ready for that.” Lakeville South Head Coach John Sheehan said. “I think ever since that game we’ve come into this thinking the picks are going to be a little bit harder, the box-outs are going to be a little bit harder, and it’s going to be an all out physical game.”

The toughness of the game was established early as officials stopped the game to clean blood off the floor. The blood spewed from the nose of North senior Al Erickson after being elbowed during a rebound in the first few minutes.

The injury put the Panthers short another starter for a short time. But it wouldn’t prove to be as detrimental as the injury to junior forward Tyler Flack, who was sitting the bench in street clothes with a sprained ankle. Flack has been a key player for North in the post, scoring 11 points per game during the regular season and providing a physical presence when contending for rebounds.

North would also miss Flack as a shot blocker in the post, with South attacking the hoop early on.

Although it looked as if South was going to take an early lead, North kept its composure and traded baskets with the Cougars for the first half. South led North by only five points at halftime, 25-20.

During the second half, the Panthers made run after run at the lead, but the Cougars relied on their senior leadership to stay on top. Every big shot by either team was matched by the other, and the energy in the gym seemed to be building to a big finish.

Finally, North was within reach of tying the game when senior Adam Patterson ran off a screen and knocked down a three pointer to pull within three, 46-43, with just under four minutes left to play.

But that was a close as they got. Numerous fouls at the end of the game sent Cougar players to the free throw line, where they were nearly perfect.

One trip to the line for the Cougars would prove to be vital. After making his first free throw, South junior Mitchell Leidner clanked his second, but sprinted to the hoop and scored a layup to drive home the dagger on the Panther’s post-season hopes. Leidner went to the bench with a standing ovation from the crowd of Cougar fans that spirited the gymnasium.

In the waning seconds North was unable to put together any effective offense, allowing South to wear out the clock on the final basketball rivalry matchup of a hard fought season.

The Lakeville North Panthers will end the season with a record of 12-15, but look forward to next year when they return many key players from this year’s roster.

Lakeville South lives to fight another day in a season with high hopes.

“This is a year we have been looking forward to for a very long time.” Lakeville South senior Alex Richter said. “Now it’s win or go home.”

The Cougars look forward to playing Eastview again, which has beaten them twice this season. They play them in the section semifinals on Saturday March 12 at St. Olaf College in Northfield at 6 p.m.