LAKEVILLE SOUTH COURGARS TAKING ON THE OWATONNA HUSKIES

I am out watching the Lakeville South Cougars go up against the Owatonna Huskies on this cold December night. We are also treated to a variety of different selections from the Lakeville pep band. There seems to be a lot of students from Lakeville South here tonight.

We are about to get this game underway. The gym is about half full. Let's get ready to rumble here folks. Owatonna has started playing a zone defense. They are playing a 3-2 defensive set.

Lakeville South is really playing touch aggressive man to man defense. They are talking to each other on the defensive end. For Owatonna, Taylor Steinbauer has played well in the opening minutes of this game. He has really gotten after it. He has dived on the floor after loose balls.

Owatonna has been trying to get the ball inside to their post players. Nate Kaffine has been posting up on the low block. He has done a good job of trying to fend off the defensive pressure.
Both teams are trying to push the ball up the court. Both teams have been missing shots here for a while. They are still trying to feel each other out. With 12:19 left to go in the first half, the score is tied at 6.

For Owatonna, Kyle Melcher has just made a nice pump fake and drive to the basket. He scored the basket. Then, after he made the basket, he sprinted back to the other end to find his man he is guarding, which is Blake Shay. Those two, Blake and Kyle have been going at it here all night. They match up so well against each other.

With 9:48 left to go in the first half, the score is Lakeville South 8 and Owatonna 11.

Out of that time out, Owatonna has come out playing a 2-3 zone defense. They have played mostly zone so far. Both teams have wanted to really push the ball up the court tonight. This game has really been close throughout the first half.

Both teams are still playing aggressive. Neither team has backed down here as of yet. Both of these teams can easily go on a run. Lakeville South has a 20-14 advantage, with 5:22 left to go in the first half. JD Mehlhorn has just completed a nice fast break, where he came down and made a nice layup.

Lakeville South has been able to put on the pressure, as of late, and has been able to cause the Owatonna players to play with a sense of urgency. Owatonna has not cracked. They are still fighting hard and getting into this game.

At half time, this game is close. Lakeville South has taken a 28-24 lead into half time. Both of these teams are playing hard and both teams are going to have to make adjustments in order to come away with the victory tonight. It is anyone's game at this point.

As we get this second half underway, here both teams are fired up and ready to play. Remember, high school games are two 18 minute half's.

Lakeview South has gotten the ball and is looking to fly up the court with it. They are getting it out of the basket and looking to score quick. But, they have come out flat to start out the half. Owatonna has taken a 28-29 lead, with 15:23 left to go in the second half.

Riley West from Lakeville South has just come down and hit a nice shot. He was driving to the basket and he had a nice up and under shot that went in. He has been able to come down and make a variety of different shots tonight.

Blake Shay for Lakeville South and Tyler Steinbauer have been going at it. They have guarded each other hard. With 11:00 left to go in the game, they have gotten tied up and started talking. It got to be a verbal argument and their teammates had to break it up. No fouls were given but they were both talked to by the referees.

This game has been going back and forth. Owatonna has a 36-35 lead, with 9:15 left to go in the second half.

This has been a very close game tonight. Both of these teams have really played hard and well. Both of these teams have put on a great show for the fans.

Sam Peters for Owatonna has just hit a deep 3 point shot, and then on the next play, he came down and made a nice jump shot.

This game has been tight and close throughout the game. Both teams are trading baskets and the game has tightened up. With 3:00 left to go in regulation, the score is Lakeville South 45 and Owatonna 46.

With 1:25 left to go in regulation, the score is tied at 47.

Spencer Busho has just come down and hit a 3 point shot for Owatonna, and that has made the score 50 Owatonna and 47 for Lakeview South, with 21.3 seconds left to go. Lakeville South's Calvin Otting got fouled with 11.1 seconds left. He hit 2-3 free throws here. So, that makes the score Lakeville South 49 and Owatonna 50.

Owatonna's Taylor Steinbauer has gotten fouled here with 10.0 seconds. He is at the line and has hit his free throw shot. Alex Richter for Lakeville South has just hit a two foot buzzer beater to send this game into overtime!

At the end of regulation, the score is tied at 51 each. With the score tied at 55 a piece, Blake Shay has just come down and buried a 3 point basket. The crowd that is still here is going crazy. The final of the game in over time was Lakeville South 59 and Owatonna 55. There were a lot of different area high school and small college coaches in attendance at tonight's game.

I would like to thank the Czar from Twin City's Boys Hoops, who was also here with me tonight. He has provided me with some background information about these two programs and has given me some stats that I was able to use in this report.