Lakeville South Falls at State in Emotional Fashion

The Lakeville South boys basketball team never game up on itself Wednesday—even during its most difficult moments.

How could it? The Cougars had overcome too much.

Having faced some of the state’s elite during the regular season, going toe-to-toe with squads like Hopkins and St. Paul Johnson, gave coach John Sheehan and his squad faith.

So even as South’s second-half rally came up short in a 79-75 loss to Eden Prairie in the Class AAAA state quarterfinals at Target Center, Sheehan saw the will and grit his team displayed all season.

“It’s just their mental toughness was so strong that they weren’t going to quit,” Sheehan said. “They started believing and believing and believing once they got down.”

The Cougars trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half and trailed by double digits on seven different occasions. A sizable rebounding disadvantage led to that deficit, as Eden Prairie out-rebounded Lakeville South 27-11 in the first half.

But South (21-9) kept its intensity and waited to make its move against a talented Eagles squad.

Eden Prairie, the lone team to beat top-seeded Hopkins this year, looked in control until seven minutes remained in Wednesday’s second half. That’s when Lakeville South made its move.

Trailing by 11, senior Alex Richter scored six consecutive points to cut the lead to five. Eden Prairie hovered around a five-point lead until Jon Christensen’s jumper and free-throw with 22 seconds left cut the lead to two.

With eight seconds left, a scrum for the ball in South’s offensive end landed in Eden Prairie’s possession, giving the Eagles a chance to ice the game with free throws.

“I definitely never thought for a second that we didn’t have a shot,” Richter said. “We have a special group of eight seniors and a lot of good juniors, and I think we always can mount a comeback whenever we needed to.”

Richter led the way with a game-high 33 points, leaving him with 1,995 points for his career. Christensen chipped in 25 points and Matt Heller had 10 points.

Eden Prairie (26-4) advanced to Thursday’s state semifinal with the win, while the Cougars’ season came to an end.

Still, Lakeville South showed in its final game what the team has seen in itself all season—a no-quit attitude that nearly put them two wins away from a state title.

“We have high character and high basketball IQ,” Richter said. “All of us live and breathe basketball, ever since our traveling years in third grade.”

It was an emotional end to Richter and his fellow seven senior teammates’ careers, but Richter said that doesn’t damper what he’ll take away from his career.

“Memories, fun,” Richter said. “The best four years of my life.”

GAME SUMMARY

Lakeville South 34 41 — 75

Eden Prairie 43 36 — 79

Scoring — LS: Riley West 4, Jon Christensen 25, Alex Richter 33, Mitchell Leider 2, Matt Heller 10, Peter Barns 1, EP: Jack Klukas 13, Grant Soderberg 10, Derek Dedeker 9, Dylan Stewart 23, Connor Nord 18, Robert Vishnevskiy 3, Jacob Foss 2. Assists leaders — LS: R. West 5. Rebounds leaders — LS: A. Richter 5, M. Heller 5, J. Christensen 4. Turnovers — LS: 12, EP: 14. Fouls — LS: 25, EP: 20.