Breaking News - Posted: 3/1/03

Overson's tip-in gives FL share of SEC title

Chances are Lance Overson couldn't have imagined finishing the final home game of his boys basketball career at Forest Lake in a better way. His tip-in as time expired at the end of the third overtime gave the Rangers a 58-57 win over Hastings Friday night. The win, coupled with Mounds View's 76-74 win over Woodbury, allowed Forest Lake to share the Suburban East Conference title with the Royals and Mustangs. All three teams finished with a 10-4 conference record.

Forest Lake had opportunities to win the game with buzz-beater shots at the end of the first and second overtimes, but both times the shots failed. It appeared a game-winning shot had failed again at the end of the third overtime until Overson came to the rescue.

With three seconds left in the third overtime, Forest Lake had an inbounds pass in front of its own bench. When the Hastings' defense collapsed on the Rangers'Joey Ryan, Keto inbounded the ball to an open Steve Korthals. Korthals grabbed the pass, spun around and fired off a 12-foot jumper. As his shot bounced off the rim, Overson crashed in from the outside and tipped the ball back in as the buzzer sounded. A frenzied celebration followed as the student body section rushed onto the court and swarmed Overson.

Forest Lake opens play in the Section 6AAAA tournament at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, against either White Bear Lake or Centennial at Blaine High School.

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