Owatonna Boys Battle to Overtime Victory at Faribault

The Owatonna boys basketball team topped Faribault 63-60 in overtime Friday, overcoming some adversity and playing solid half-court defense along the way.

Up by two with 90 seconds to go in the second half, OHS had several possessions to give themselves some breathing room. But a couple of missed shots and a questionable turnover ruling gave Faribault just enough opportunities to tie the game. The controversial turnover came with :36 remaining. On an out of bounds play, Owatonna's player couldn't find a teammate to throw to. He threw the ball at a Faribault player with the idea that it would go out of bounds and still be a Huskies ball. The officials ruled it Falcons ball. They tied the game at 55-55. Each team had a chance at a basket in the closing seconds.

In overtime, Alex Raichle put the Huskies up 57-55. Kade Hart of Faribault then drilled a three for a 58-57 edge. Jay Sullivan scored the rest of Owatonna's points on 6-for-6 from the free throw line. He and Nolan Malo each grabbed crucial rebounds in the extra session.

The Huskies had a chance to open up a big lead in the first half when leading 23-9. The Falcons were struggling with their shot and OHS shooting ace Dalton Kubista was draining three after three on his way to 17 first-half points. But Faribault went on a 10-0 run capped by a three-pointer by reserve Tristan Leavans-Hayes to make the score 23-19.

Sullivan stopped the drought with a pair of driving lay-ups around a basket by Faribault for a 27-21 lead late in the half. OHS led 32-26 at the break. The Falcons went inside to Chase Ernste early and often in the second half to tie the game at 32-32. After trading several baskets, Faribault hit a couple in a row to go ahead 47-41.

Owatonna responded with baskets by Kubista and Jason Williamson and a three-point play by Sullivan to sneak ahead 49-47. The back-and-forth flow to the game continued to the end. Kubista scored 24. Sullivan added 13. Williamson had 10.

OHS coach Josh Williams said he was proud of his team's effort to stay focused through the adversity. He said the team played its best game of half-court defense of the season, especially late in the game.

Owatonna plays Pleasant Valley, Iowa, at the Wisconsin Dells on Saturday at 5:45PM. The Huskies are at home against Austin on Tuesday, January 17.

Joe Jackson led Faribault with 15 points. Hart had 14 and Ernste contributed 10. The Falcons play at Rochester Century on Tuesday and host Mankato West on Friday, January 20.

Scoreboard for Friday, January 13
Boys basketball
Owatonna 63, Faribault 60, overtime
Blooming Prairie 80, Kenyon-Wanamingo 64
Mankato East 74, Albert Lea 43
Maple River 50, Faribault Bethlehem Academy 49
New Prague 54, Chaska 43
Rochester John Marshall 67, Northfield 60
Winona 81, Rochester Century 58

Girls basketball
Owatonna 59, Faribault 31
NRHEG 74, USC 43
Hayfield 61, Cannon Falls 24
Waseca 31, Fairmont 21
Winona 63, Rochester Century 25

Boys hockey
Faribault 4, Winona 3

Junior Hockey
Steele County Blades 9, Blaine 4 (Eighth straight win for the Blades)