It wasn’t the ending the Wolfpack had envisioned this season.

But this loss, in the Section 3AAAA finals for the second straight season, shows just how far Park basketball has come.

“What these guys did was amazing,” said Park head coach Mike Weah. “They finished the season 20-9. This is our first 20-win season in – I’d have to go back and check. That group of seniors, they were part of a lot of firsts. A lot of those guys we had on the jayvee/varsity as freshmen, they were there for the first, when we won a section game in ninth grade. It was a great feeling. They were also here when we lost to Eastview by two. They had a goal, we want to get even further, we want to be even better.

“They did what they were supposed to do,” Weah added. “It wasn’t the results that we wanted tonight; we definitely had a goal of winning this game when the season started. But overall, what they did was amazing. They brought excitement, they put on a show for the community. A lot of times instead of coaching I became a fan. It was just amazing to see.”

Two seasons ago – with then sophomores Evan Bearth, Brady Perryman, Pharrel Payne and Brayden Fick on the varsity, Park struggled to a 4-23 season and went just 1-17 in the Suburban East Conference.

Last season the Wolfpack were 11-10, and .500 in the SEC.

This year, the Wolfpack were a win away from doubling their season win total, and also that one elusive win away from the school’s first state basketball tournament in nearly 50 years. Park went 20-9 overall, including 13-5 in the SEC, finishing second, and knocked off state tournament teams Cretin- Derham Hall and No. 6 Owatonna.

“An amazing season for us,” said Payne. “We were able to put on a show this season. Sadly, it came to an end but we’re proud of the season we just had.”

So, while the 68-40 loss to host Eastview was hard to swallow, winning 20 games and being in the section finals again showed how far the Wolfpack have come. And also showed how far they need to go to get over the hump.

“What we did here is definitely something Park hasn’t seen in a while,” said Bearth. “And us as seniors can definitely walk away being really proud of that.”

In the beginning, and in the end Thursday night, Lightning struck. Host Eastview Lightning overwhelmed the Wolfpack before a rowdy sold-out crowd in Apple Valley, winning 68-40 and thus ending one of the best Park boys basketball seasons.

Park’s 20 wins were the most Wolfpack wins in a season in recent memory -but also a game away from the team’s ultimate goal, a trip to the state tournament. The Wolfpack finished as Section 3AAAA runners-up for the second straight season.

Seventh-ranked Eastview (22-6) advanced to the MSHSL 2022 boys basketball tournament and were seeded fourth.

Park’s only appearance in the boys state basketball tournament remains 49 years ago, in 1973. It was the fifth time in sixth seasons that Park’s season has been ended by Eastview. The lone exception, last season where Park edged Eastview before falling in the section title game to Rosemount.

This time it was Eastview which did everything right. The Lightning forced Park into numerous turnovers and bad shots throughout the game, never letting Park star center Payne get going. At the same time Eastview took advantage of holes in the Wolfpack defense for good shots and easy baskets.

“Overall, they were better at putting the ball in the hoop,” said Payne. “They had better defense. They played more physical. They were pretty much just running over us.”

Payne led Park with 17 points and Bearth has 11, but no other Park player had more than four. With the rest of Park’s lineup not hitting, the Lightning could concentrate mostly on stopping Payne and Bearth.

Eastview point guard Kenji Scales was everywhere, scored 24 points for the Lightning.

Except for three baskets by Payne and one by Jamari Walker, Eastview completely shut down Park’s inside game in the first half. Only one three each by OT Omot, Bearth and Brayden Fick kept the Wolfpack from falling further behind.

Park never led. Eastview jumped out to an early 10-5 lead, led 28-15 with 4:37 to play in the first half and were ahead 35-19 at the half. The second half was no better for the Wolfpack, who could never put together a serious run at Eastview’s lead. Eastview outscored Park 33-21 in the second half.

“They made more hustler plays for sure,” said coach Weah. “They made a lot more hustle plays. More hustle plays and more physical and they did the little things that it takes to win a game like this. They had more toughness.”

“I told the guys, great season, tonight just wasn’t our night,” said Weah. ”When that happens there’s just nothing that you can do. The ball felt like it was a lid on it tonight.”

The second half was mostly more of the same for both teams. Bearth drained a pair of threes in the half, and Payne had four buckets, but nobody else from Park could manage much offensively. And just like that the season was over.

“I think they were a little more physical than us,” said Bearth. “They won the 50-50 balls. I would say they were more physical than us and we weren’t really ready for us. They showed a lot of pressure, and we just couldn’t take it I guess.”

Park will miss the contributions of eight seniors: Payne, Bearth, Walker, Perryman, Fick, Josh Hatano, Devren Xiong and Michael Suh.

Next season, the Wolfpack will likely play small ball built around standout guard OT Omot, along with guards David Ola-Kazeem and Don Batts returning.

Junior guard OT Omot swoops in for a shot against Eastview in the second half Thursday.Photo by John Molene.

It wasn’t the ending the Wolfpack seniors wanted, but Park’s 20-win season was remarkable in many ways. Photo by John Molene.

Park star senior center Pharrel Payne goes to the hoop in the first half against Eastview. Photo by John Molene.