Waconia Derails Minneapolis Washburn's March to State

With burly 6-foot-8 senior forward Shelby Moats leading the way, third-seeded Waconia looked like they might have a relatively easy time of it for a half Saturday night.

Moats had 23 of his 25 points by halftime and his team led fifth-ranked Minneapolis Washburn 38-31.

But second-seeded Washburn was just warming up. The host Millers staged a furious second half rally that came up just short and Waconia was able to escape with a 69-66 win in a Section 6AAA semifinal boys basketball game Saturday.

Waconia (20-7) advances to play Benilde-St. Margaret’s (23-4) in the Section 6AAA championship game Thursday at Chanhassen, with the winner advancing to the state tournament. Benilde destroyed Holy Family Catholic 82-40 in the other section semifinal Friday.

Washburn ended its season at 21-6, its nine-game winning streak snapped. Included in that streak was an 85-80 win over No. 1 ranked and defending state champion Johnson in the Twin Cities championship.

“I was proud of them,” said Washburn coach Reggie Perkins. “You know good teams lose sometimes. And a good team lost today. And we played against a good team. Pat does a great job with his guys and I believe I do with mine and just a great game, great finish. I was just telling them to hold their heads up high.”

Washburn had advanced by burying Mound-Westonka 106-80 in the first round of the section, but that offensive prowess was seldom seen in the first half Friday. Waconia dominated the inside at both ends of the court, and had the quicks to mostly match the Washburn Millers when they tried to get out and run.

Waconia led by 6 to 10 points most of the first half and were still up 63-53 with 4:18 to play when the Millers kicked it up a notch. Waconia started missing, Washburn started hitting and all of a sudden it was a tight ballgame.

“They’re a very explosive team,” said Waconia coach Pat Hayes of the Millers. “They can score a lot of points. So that was the key. They were making shots and we weren’t converting on our end, so we were giving them opportunities.”

Washburn’s Dwight Anderson scored back-to-back baskets to cut Waconia’s lead to 68-65 with 22 seconds left. Waconia’s Tommy Gove then missed a pair of free throws with nine seconds left. Washburn put up a 3-point shot from the deep corner that missed, but Nick Anderson got the ball back and was fouled. Anderson made the first free throw to cut it to 68-66, and then missed the second.

In the scramble that followed, Waconia’s Ben Kortuem grabbed the ball and was fouled. He made one free throw with 3 seconds left, but missed the second. Washburn tried a three from beyond half court that wasn’t close and that was the game.

Dwight Anderson led a balanced Minneapolis Washburn offense with 18 points. Clarence Thomas had 17 and Nick Anderson 15.

“My point guard, Nick Anderson, did a great job,” said Perkins. “He’s really grown as a point guard. I’m looking forward to the next couple of years with him.”

Moats led Waconia with 25 and Wiley Ferron scored 17.

“Shelby is probably the best kid we’ve played against, as a big, all year,” said Perkins. “But if I look at my young guy playing him, first half he kind of had his way with us but the second half I think my young guy put his heart and soul into it and he made it tough for him. We knew Shelby was going to come to play.”

“I’m really proud of our composure,’ said Hayes. “The way our kids played hard. It was obviously a hostile environment, but it felt like a home game with our fan support.”