The difference between Mounds View and Park was razor thin this season, almost as thin as the Mustangs’ 53-51 win at Cottage Grove Friday.
In the regular season finale for both teams, Mounds View rallied from an early deficit to pass Park, then hung on for dear life in the game’s decisive moments.
The Wolfpack had a chance to win it with a three-point field goal in the final seconds, but the shot failed to drop, and the Mustangs walked away with the hard-fought victory.
Third-seeded Park, now 13-13 on the season, hosts sixth-seeded Eastview in a Section 3AAAA quarterfinal match Wednesday, starting at 7 p.m.
“I expect us to play super hard and I hope we go on a good run,” said Park senior guard Tayvion Stewart.
In the other section quarterfinals, top-seeded Eagan (14-12) hosts eighth-seeded Bloomington Jefferson (5-21), fourth-seeded Rosemount (9-17) hosts fifth-seeded Hastings (14-12) and second-seeded Apple Valley (13-13) entertains seventh-seeded Burnsville (3-23). Quarterfinal games are all on Wednesday, March 6, with the semifinals set for Friday, March 8 at the high seed locations. The section final is scheduled for Thursday, March 14.
“We’re going into the sections really confident, really confident,” said Park head coach Mike Weah. “We know that if we play our game, you know guys are going to get it. You want them to play hard every single game but you know there’s a new chip on your shoulder when you’re in sections. Your seniors, we’ve been talking to them about it the whole year. When you get to this point you’re going to know and I think we’re going to leave it all on the court.”
Park and Mounds View both finished the season at 11-7 in the Suburban East Conference, tying for third place in the league. The two teams split the season series, each win on the away court. Cretin-Derham Hall won the conference at 17-1, with East Ridge second at 16-2.
As they have all season, the Wolfpack got balanced scoring. Senior guards AJ Kennedy had 15 points and Stewart had 13. Junior forward Dom Batts scored 9 and junior guard Anthony Giadyu had 8.
Park opened the game on fire, taking leads of 8-0 and 11-2 before the Mustangs slowly started chipping away at the Park edge. It was an 18-16 game at the 7:04 mark and 27-all at the half.
“Basketball is a game of runs,” said Weah. “We started off pretty sharp. I think we got a little tired. Some guys, we are rotating guys in that haven’t played this whole year, but they stepped up and played great for us. We got a little tired there and Mounds View capitalized on it."
The second half was tight throughout. Park trailed 49-47 with 1:21 to play before Miskir Esayas made a clutch three. Park trailed 53-50 with 12 seconds left. Park’s Stewart drew a foul on the next possession, made the first free throw, intentionally missed the second, grabbed the rebound and in a wild scramble for the ball the Wolfpack got off a final shot to try and win it but the ball wouldn’t drop.
“We were just trying to miss, get a quick rebound and go back up with a shot quick,” said Stewart. “And we did it. We got a good look. We executed we just didn’t get what we wanted, the outcome.”
“Tay did a great job as we said in the locker room, that’s probably the best play that he made all night and he made a ton of great plays” said Weah. “We’re just saying all the great plays that he made tonight he gave us … he did what he’s been doing this whole year, give us a chance to win and that play right there shows his character and the guy he’s been for us this season. It gave us a shot. I can’t ask for much more.”
The loss did nothing to dampen Park’s goals for a post-regular season run.
“To make it to the state championship, but take it one game at a time,” said Kennedy when asked the team’s expectations were.
