The Class 1A Substate 1 game between South O’Brien and North Union promised to be a close one as the teams came in with identical 21-3 records. The contest, played February 24 at the Spencer Fieldhouse, did not disappoint as overtime was needed to decide matters. In the end it was North Union controlling the extra session to emerge with a 58-51 victory and a trip to the Boys State Basketball Tournament. South O’Brien had brought a 12-game winning streak into the game.
Leading 46-44 on a three ball from David Bottjen with 1:50 left in regulation, the Wolverines forced two missed shots but each time North Union got the offensive rebound. The Warriors’ Aidan Lofstrom laid the second rebound back in to tie the game at the seven second mark. Following a time out, South O’Brien got an open corner jumper from Jaden Kreber but the shot would not go in. North Union never trailed in overtime and its lead was 54-48 with a little over a minute left.
“We just needed to make one more play in regulation,” said Wolverine head coach Kiley Yates. “One more basket. One more rebound. One more free throw. But North Union is very good and made it difficult for us on both ends.”
The Warriors took an early 11-4 lead but South O’Brien responded to end the quarter on top 13-12. North Union moved back in front 21-16 but the lead was only one at 26-25 as the teams left the floor at halftime.
The pattern repeated in the third quarter with Lofstrom completing a traditional three point play to give the Warriors a 34-29 advantage. Derek Paulsen scored consecutive baskets and South O’Brien climbed within one. A pair of three-pointers staked North Union to an eight point lead but Bottjen’s bucket made the score 42-36 after three.
Scores by Paulsen and Willie Conley helped the Wolverines cut into the deficit in the fourth quarter. South O’Brien’s defense had limited the Warriors to only one basket in the period and when Bottjen nailed his trey from the wing, the Wolverines were on top.
Leading the way for South O’Brien on the scoreboard were Paulsen with 18 points, Bottjen with 14 and Conley with 11. Kreber added five points, Ben Woodall two and Caden Wittrock one. No other stats for the Wolverines were available at press time. North Union was paced by Lofstrum’s 17 points. Preston Guerdet hit three treys and finished with 13 points.
This was the last game for Bottjen, Conley and Woodall as well as for fellow seniors Justice Frerk, who was plagued by foul trouble, and Aaron Funkhouser. Said Coach Yates, “Our seniors improved a great deal over the course of their careers and had a very successful 23-24 season: 21-4 and district champions for the sixth time in the last ten years.”
S. O’Brien
13 12 11 10 5 – 51
N. Union
12 14 16 4 12 – 58