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Otters fall on putback bucket: Immelman’s last second putback sends Sabres to state 57-55 [UPDATED]
Published 10:47am Friday, March 15, 2013 Updated 10:57am Friday, March 15, 2013ST. CLOUD — With just seconds remaining in the game, the Fergus Falls boys basketball team focused on shutting down Sartell-St. Stephen guard Patrick Fischer.
Fischer ran the clock to setup for the last second shot. He drove to the hoop, saw two Otter defenders in his face and saw the ball fly over the rim.
The problem for Fergus came 2 seconds later as Tim Immelman was waiting open on the other side. He pulled the rebound and put in a lay up to send the Sabres to a 57-55 Section 8AAA title and a Class AAA playoff berth.
In their third meeting of the year, the Otters came out ready to play. Focusing on Fischer was the priority and they were able to hold the standout to only five first half points.
The issue did not come on the defensive end, but the Otters were unable to put the ball through the ring as they went eight for 29 from the floor in the first half.
The battle of Central Lakes Conference foes ended at with a 23-20 Sabre lead at the break.
The second half saw the Otters quickly tie the game, but Sartell would go up 10 points around the 12 minute mark.
Fergus continued to fight as tied the game with 3 minutes left to play. Fischer was able to find his groove as he would score 18 second half points, but the Otters’ Austin Rund and Mike Millard were able to score 12 and 10 second half points, respectively, to keep Fergus within striking distance.
After a back and forth exchange that saw the game move to 55-55 in the waning minutes. Sartell setup for a last second shot that everyone knew was going to be Fischer’s. The Sabre scrapped the left side of the lane, throwing up a fade away shot that fell to Immelman on the other side of the basket for the put back and the win.
“We needed to play better help defense,” Otter coach Dave Rund said. “That is one of their bread and butter plays and we kind of let that get away from us.”
Fischer finished the game with 23 points for the Sabres and Tom Bearson dropped in 12 tallies.
The Fergus Falls shooters were led by Rund with 20 points, while all-time scorer Millard put in 19 in his final game in maroon and gold.
Fergus played most of the second half in foul trouble as post Reece Johnson and Rund had four fouls, as well as the Sabres taking advantage of the early bonus.
The two teams were even on the boards with 30 each, but Sartell was able to dominate in the paint as they scored 28 points compared to the Otters 16.
The Otters finish their season with a 18-12 record.
FERGUS FALLS (55) — Austin Rund 20, Mike Millard 19, Reece Johnson 8, Jackson McAllister 3, Isaiah Lemke 3, Brady Hansen 2. FG – 18/45 3’s – 6/18 FT – 13/17 PF – 14
SARTELL- ST. STEPHEN (57) — Patrick Fischer 23, Tome Bearson 12, Tim Immelman 9, Parker Hagen 8, Cordell Midas 2, Ben Lanners 2, Brandon Snoberger 1. FG – 23/49 3’s – 3/12 FT – 8-14 PF – 12
FF 20 35 — 55
SS 23 34 — 57
