Posted: 2/12/03

Mustangs pony up to beat Rangers in OT

Berk Brown
Sports Editor
A gymnasium full of spectators stood in the final seconds of Fridayís game between Forest Lake and Mounds View expecting to see a potential game-winning shot.

It didnít happen as the Rangersí Kevin Keto was stripped of the ball as he went up for a shot with three seconds remaining in overtime, preserving a 51-50 victory for Mounds View.

It was an anti-climactic finish to a thrilling game which saw the SEC-leading Rangers battle back from a nine-point deficit to have a shot at winning at the end of regulation and overtime.

Despite the loss, which dropped Forest Lake into a tie with Stillwater for first in the SEC and moved Mounds View into third, Rangersí coach Chuck Gunderson said it was simply a great high school basketball game.

ìI donít have a problem with that game,î he said. ìIt was just a great game. It was a fun game. We had a chance and they had a chance.î

Mounds View used its outside shooting to build an early lead and held a 24-13 advantage with 1:48 left in the first half after a 3-pointer by Bobby Harris.

Lance Overson ñÝwho scored eight of his 10 first-half points on putbacks off offensive rebounds ñÝscored the final four points of the first half for the Rangers to help Forest Lake cut the halftime lead to 24-17.

Mounds View increased its lead to as much as 31-23 in the third quarter and led 33-29 entering the fourth quarter.

Forest Lake battled back to tie the score at 33-33 on a basket by Keto and again at 38-38 on a 3-pointer by Joey Ryan with 1:36 left in regulation.

A pair of free throws by Ryan with 1:05 left tied the score at 40-40. Mounds View then held the ball for a final shot, but the Rangersí Tom Frericks stole the ball from the Mustangsí Harris and was able to get off a floating 15-foot jumper at the buzzer but missed.

In overtime, Mounds View got 3-pointers from Travis Busch and Harris to pull out to a 49-45 lead, but a three-point play by Keto with :14 remaining pulled Forest Lake within 51-50.

Keto then fouled Mounds Viewís Joe Merritt with :13. Merritt missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity and the Rangersí Ryan grabbed the rebound and called timeout with :10 left.

Following the timeout, Keto took the inbounds pass and dribbled the full length of the court before driving and trying a floating jumper at the free-throw line ñÝa shot he never got off.

Keto finished the game with 13 points and three assists for the Rangers while Ryan had 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Overson finished the game with 16 points and 10 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass.

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