In the second of our KFIL doubleheader, the Goodhue Wildcats outlasted the Rushford-Peterson Trojans 40-37 in double overtime! Last week, the Goodhue girls punched their ticket to state, where they are still in action, and now the Wildcat boys have earned a trip to the Cities.

To start the game, both teams knew a lot about each other, as Goodhue coach Matt Halverson was a product of Rushford-Peterson and long tournament runs, graduating a Trojan about a decade ago. The teams play each other during the regular season every year now, and the first match-up proved to be a fluke after just three practices for R-P to start the season after the run to state in football.

1A Runners Up
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Both teams did a lot of cutting and passing, looking for whatever they could get inside, while open looks were hit for three three-pointers in the first half by Goodhue. The score was tied 3 times, and the lead changed 4 times in the first. Goodhue led 17-16 at the half.

There was some early foul trouble, with Goodhue's Jacob McNamara being called for three fouls in the first half, and a couple fouls by Luke Rasmussen and Noah Carlson did not seem to have a huge impact early on. In the second half, Goodhue scored first, but Noah Carlson then tied it with a trey. The score was tied 5 more times, as Goodhue did not hit from three, but fed their big man McNamara for 3 buckets down low, while it was more spread out for R-P.

Coming down the court with under 10 seconds to play, Goodhue called a timeout down by three. The inbound play got a couple passes to Sam Opsahl, who rose up and drained the game-tying shot. The Trojans and Wildcats were headed to overtime!

In overtime number one, Jacob McNamara hit the first of two free throws for the early Wildcat lead. Jacob Paulsen had a steal and blocked shot on defense, and on offense drained two free throws to take the lead back. McNamamra scored twice more, but Dawson Dahl's bucket had kept it to a one-point game. He was fouled, went 1 of 2 from the line, and that's where overtime number one ended: 34-34.

To overtime two we went, with Dawson Dahl giving R-P the lead back to start the frame. A free throw on each side got it back to a two-point R-P lead. Then Goodhue set up, a long three point attempt was good, again Sam Opsahl came through big for Goodhue. Free throws were hit down the stretch, and the Wildcats head on to state after defeating the Trojans 40-37.

KFIL Player of the Game for Goodhue was Sam Opsahl. Hitting the game-tying shot with 6.8 seconds to go in regulation, then nailing the go-ahead shot in the second overtime was enough for the award. Honorable mention to Jacob McNamara, scoring 14 in the game -5 in overtime.

KFIL Subway Player of the Game for the Rushford-Peterson Trojans was Jacob Paulsen. Paulsen scored 13 points and had a big blocked shot and steal in overtime among his big plays.

The Kingsley Mercantile Game Ball was awarded to Dawson Dahl. Dawson scored 5 points in the overtimes, and had two clutch free throws and steals in the second half to keep it a tight game.

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