The Minnewaska Area boys team came within a few points and a few minutes of pulling off a big upset over top-seeded Montevideo in the opening round of the Section 3AA Boys Basketball Tournament, Saturday night at Montevideo.

The Lakers, who came in as the eighth seed, led 48-45 with 4:35 left in the game before the Thunderhawks hit a pair of big 3-pointers and end the game on an 11-1 run to pull out the 56-49 victory.

Montevideo moves on to face fourth-seeded Morris Area-CA in the next round of the tourney, Thursday, while the Lakers end the season with a 2-25 overall record after just missing out on extending their season.

Montevideo beat the Lakers twice during the regular-season, 77-54 and 78-42 at home.  “Our guys put up one heck of a fight tonight,” coach Zach Traphagen said.  “They played with confidence, energy and belief.  Although we didn’t finish the game with the upset win, I think it’s safe to say these guys left their heart out there on that floor tonight.”

Montevideo and Morris Area join Paynesville and EV-Watkins as first-round winners in the Lakers’ half of Section 3AA.  The tourney continues Thursday and Saturday with the championship game set for Thursday, March 14 at SMSU in Marshall.

Seniors who will be lost to graduation from this year’s team are seniors Austin Ballhagen, Alex Panitzke, Ryland Martin, Dylan Alexander and Jack Majerus.

In the results that follow is also a recap of the Lakers’ final regular-season game, a 69-46 loss at Osakis last Monday night.

Osakis 69, Minnewaska 46

The Lakers were held under 50 points for the 10th time this year during a 69-46 loss at Osakis last Monday night.  Osakis improved to 19-5 overall with the win, while the Lakers ended the regular season with a 2-24 overall record.

Minnewaska trailed 32-18 at halftime before being outscored 37-28 in the second half.

Tenzin Dahl led the Lakers with 16 points, five rebounds and three steals.  He was 7-of-13 from the field and 2-of-2 from the line.

Alex Panitzke added 10 points and three assists, while Connor Frey went 3-of-8 on three-pointers to total nine points and three steals.

The Lakers shot 33 percent from the field (19-for-56), including 5-of-16 on three-pointers.  

Minnewaska Area, which was 3-of-5 from the line, also got four points, four assists, five boards and two steals from Dylan Alexander, while Jacob Mrnak had three points, Owen Meulebroeck had two points and three boards, and Jack Majerus also had two points to go along with two assists, four rebounds and two steals.

Montevideo 56, Waska 49

The Lakers and Thunderhawks went toe-to-toe for almost two hours before Montevideo was able to take control of the game in the final few minutes to escape with a 56-49 victory.

Minnewaska Area trailed late, 42-39, but scored five-straight points to go up 44-42 with 8:45 left in the game.  The Lakers still led 48-45 when Montevideo called a timeout with 4:35 left in the game.

“To have a three-point lead against the No. 1 seed on their home court with four minutes to play; we gave it everything we had,” Traphagen said. 

Following the timeout, the Thunderhawks hit two-straight 3-pointers, the second of which gave Montevideo the lead for good at 51-48 with 3:18 left in the game.

Montevideo would go on to score five more points for a 56-48 lead when the Thunderhawks were called for a technical foul with 14 seconds left, giving the Lakers one last hope.

Dylan Alexander sank one of two free-throws, but the Lakers were unable to score on their next shot and the clock was left to run out, giving Montevideo the 56-49 victory.

“Montevideo is a very good team and did what very good teams do and found a way to win when it mattered most,” coach Traphagen said.  “Our guys battled to the end and as a coaching staff, that’s all we can ask for.  We couldn’t be more proud of this team.”

•  The Lakers’ biggest lead of the game was at 18-14 with 7:41 left in the first half.  Owen Meulebroeck had a pair of baskets off feeds from Levi Johnson to give Minnewaska an early 13-11 lead and, after Montevideo made a 3-pointer, Connor Frey responded with a 3-pointer of his own and Dahl scored off an offensive rebound for the 18-14 lead.  During this stretch, Montevideo had five-straight possessions with a turnover as the Lakers’ defense was causing problems for the Thunderhawks all night.

Minnewaska Area still led 21-19 after a Marc Gruber 3-pointer and 28-25 after seven-straight points from Alex Panitzke, but Montevideo went into halftime with a 33-30 lead after scoring eight points in the final 1:18 of the first half.

Montevideo came out hot to start the second half, building a 40-34 lead, but the Lakers would go on a 14-5 run of their own over the next eight minutes to take a 48-45 lead.

Panitzke and Alexander made shots inside and Frey hit a 3-pointer to put the Lakers within 42-41.

Panitzke sank another 3-pointer for a 44-42 lead and, after a basket by the Thunderhawks, Dahl made a nice reverse layup and another shot inside for a 48-45 lead.

However, following a timeout, the Thunderhawks finally were able to find their rhythm just in time to rally for the win.

•  Alex Panitzke led the Lakers with 15 points and two steals, while Tenzin Dahl had 10 points, two assists, eight rebounds and two steals.

The Lakers shot 37 percent from the field (21-for-56), including 6-of-17 from long range.  Minnewaska Area was also 1-of-2 from the line, not shooting its first free-throw until 14 seconds remained in the game.

Marc Gruber added seven points and five boards, while Connor Frey had a pair of 3-pointers for six points, Owen Meulebroeck also had six points along with three assists and three boards, Dylan Alexander had five points, five assists, five rebounds and four steals, and Levi Johnson had a pair of assists.

Take away the 8-2 run by Montevideo to end the first half and the 11-1 run in the final 4:35 of the game and the Lakers outscored Montevideo 46-37  during the other 18 minutes of the game.

The 56 points allowed to Montevideo was one off the season low for the Lakers, who gave up 55 points during a 55-47 loss to HLWW at a holiday tourney this season.

at Osakis 69, Waska 46

Osakis 32 37 — 69

Waska (2-24) 18 28 — 46

WASKA stats:  19-56 FG (5-16 3pt); 3-5 FT; 12 assists; 23 rebounds; 11 steals; 12 fouls; 13 turnovers . . . Scoring:   Tenzin Dahl 16, Alex Panitzke 10, Connor Frey 9, Dylan Alexander 4, Jacob Mrnak 3, Jack Majerus 2, Owen Meulebroeck 2 . . . Rebounding:  Dahl 5, Alexander 5, Majerus 4, Meuelebroeck 3, Levi Johnson 2 . . . Assists:  Alexander 4, Panitzke 3, Majerus 2 . . . Steals:  Dahl 3, Frey 3, Majerus 2, Alexander 2

OSAKIS stats:   Stats not available

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Section 3AA-at Montevideo 56, Minnewaska Area 49

Waska (2-25) 30 19 — 49

Montevideo 33 23 — 56

WASKA stats:  21-56 FG (6-17 3pt); 1-2 FT; 17 assists; 26 rebounds; 9 steals; 10 fouls; 13 turnovers . . Scoring:   Alex Panitzke 15, Tenzin Dahl 10, Marc Gruber 7, Connor Frey 6, Owen Meulebroeck 6, Dylan Alexander 5 . . . Rebounding:  Dahl 8, Alexander 5, Gruber 5, Meulebroeck 3, Jack Majerus 3. . . Assists:  Alexander 5, Meulebroeck 3, Frey 2, Dahl 2, Levi Johnson 2 . . . Steals  Alexander 4, Panitzke 2, Dahl 2

MONTE stats:   Stats not available

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