Breaking News - Posted: 3/12/03

Rangers reach 6AAAA championship game

Forest Lake withstood a drought from the free-throw line, foul trouble and a late Centennial charge to take a 64-58 win over the Cougars in the Section 6AAAA semifinals Tuesday night at Blaine.

Forest Lake, 18-7, will now face Mounds View, 20-7, at 7 p.m. on Friday at Blaine for the section championship. The two Suburban East Conference teams split their season series with each winning on the other's home court.

Forest Lake utscored Centennial 24-13 in the second period to build a comfortable lead. It remained comfortable until late in the game with Forest Lake went three straight possesions with a combined turnover and 0 of 3 performance from the line. That allowed Centennial to get back into the game and when the Cougars' Dan Dewitt hit a deep 3-pointer with :38 left in the game, Centennial had pulled within 60-58.

Tom Frericks and Joey Ryan, who finished with a game-high 29 points, went a combined 4 of 4 from the line in the final seconds for the Rangers and Centennial missed its final two 3-point attempts as Forest Lake held on for the win.

The winner of Friday's Forest Lake-Mounds View game will face either Hopkins or Park Center in the first round of the state tournament at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, at Osseo High School.

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