RTR outlasts Vikings for trip to state

Minneota's bid to earn its FIRST EVER boys' basketball state tourney bid fell just short when they lost a 71-69 heartbreaker to Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Thursday night.

Minneota had a 40-29 lead when Nolan Boerboom hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.

But in the second half they couldn't hold on and RTR came back, took the lead late in the game and by using good free throw shooting, held on for the two-point win.

The Knights started to create a little separation and would take a 66-62 lead with 1:33 left to play but Minneota got a huge 3-pointer from Thomas Hennen that brought the score to 66-65 with 1:15 to go. The score stayed at 66-65 until RTR took a bigger lead at 68-65 with 25.3 seconds on the clock on a pair of free throws.

Thomas Hennen would cut it to a one-point game with two free throws, but the Knights would seal the game at the free-throw line in the closing seconds to escape with the two-point victory.

The Knights were led by Cooper Hansen with 20 points followed by Kirk with 17, Garrett Kern with 15 and Johnson with 13. Minneota was led by Thomas Hennen with 31 points, Sussner with 11, Jacob Hennen with 10 and Boerboom with nine.

 Isaac Hennen fouled out late in the game and Alex Saltzer came in and hit two crucial free throws. But it wasn't enough and Minneota ended it's season with a 24-4 record. RTR will advance to the state with a 30-1 record.