Warriors drop Beavers on last second shot in OT

I first started at the Bemidji (Minn.) Pioneer as an intern in the summer of 1996. That would begin six years as a news reporter, sports reporter and copy editor for a small, six-day-per-week daily newspaper in northern Minnesota. I wrote a large range of stories from multiple beats, to features to sports, my favorite being the coverage of the Red Lake Reservation High School basketball team named the Warriors. Here is a collection of my stories from my time at the Pioneer.

Feb. 4, 1999

By Devlyn Brooks

The Beavers men's basketball team fell inches short of playing giantkillers Wednesday night, losing 80-78 in overtime to conference leader Winona State.

But simply stated, the Warriors canned their last shot, and the Beavers didn't.

"We just didn't do the things we had to do to win," BSU head coach Dave Gunther said. "We gave them too many second chances, and they did the things they needed to do."

In overtime, with nine seconds remaining, Winona State inbounded the ball and threw up a desperation three. The ball bounced off the rim, and an unguarded Kyle Schlaak grabbed the board and put it back for Winona's eventual game winner.

However, BSU had about four seconds left to make a play, and they came up just inches short.

On the inbounds play, BSU's Mac Smith caught the pass at center court, looked for an outlet but saw none, and took the ball to the hoop.

His three-point line shot smacked off the front of the rim, and BSU dropped a golden opportunity.

Winona's winning shot was symbolic of the entire game. All night, BSU gave up many a second and third shot to the Warriors, who played an opportunistic offense and converted many of their 17 offensive boards.

But on the other end, Winona snagged 22 defensive rebounds to BSU's seven offensive, leaving the Beavers with few second chances.

Heading into halftime, the Beavers had a 38-35 edge in a see-saw battle, but in the second lost a five-point lead they had with 11-plus minutes to play.

In overtime, BSU led once 78-76 with a minute and a half left before giving up two straight buckets.

The Warriors (11-10, 7-0 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) entered the contest unbeaten in six games in the conference, and a win would have guaranteed the Beavers (9-12, 3-4 NSIC) at least third place.