A lot of times the build up of a highly anticipated game isn't realized. That wasn't the case Monday at packed Bresnan Arena as a late spurt carried Maple River to a 64-56 win over Blue Earth Area in the Section 2AA, East Subsection boys basketball championship.
"It was a game of streaks," Maple River coach Tim Anderson said. "Blue Earth was probably the best defensive team coming into the tournament, but we held our own tonight. They wanted to take Elijah (Blakesley) away, so they had two or three guys hanging on him all night. Our other guys had to step up like they have all year, and they did."
While the 6-foot-9 Blakesley was limited to 10 points and seven rebounds, junior guard Seth Anderson fired in 21 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists.
It was Anderson's two foul shots and coast-to-coast drive and left-handed layup that put the Eagles in front 53-41.
However, the top-seeded Bucs (25-4) had one final surge in them as 3-pointers from Grant Holmseth and Joe Trasamar sparked an 11-1 run that cut the deficit to 54-52 on Cody Sukalski's free throw with 1:53 left.
"I would never bet against these kids in anything they do in life," Blue Earth Area coach Gary Holmseth said. "It didn't surprise me a bit to see them come back because they've always been a team that has found a way to make plays."
The Eagles (24-3) also made their share.
After a Paul Larson basket had given the Eagles a 56-53 lead with just under a minute to play, the Bucs forced a loose ball that Maple River's Dan DeWitz tipped ahead to Blakesley, who soared in for a dunk with 42 seconds remaining.
Junior post Dan Stauffer added eight points for the Eagles, while Larson, Aaron Annis and Drager each scored six.
"They had all the momentum coming down the stretch," Seth Anderson said. "They hit some big shots to come back in it, but Paul Larson's jumper gave us a lot of momentum, and then we knocked down free throws. That's the thing we didn't do the first game against them and let it get away.
"This was just a great atmosphere here tonight. Everybody comes out to watch when two small towns play each other. I mean, you could rob one of our towns on a night like this."
Grant Holmseth led the Bucs with 23 points.
The opening 18 minutes featured 11 lead changes and three ties. Holmseth scored 12 first-half points for the Bucs.
"The inside game was really packed in so we went outside and worked on driving and dishing to the posts," Blakesley said. "It was a game of spurts, and we got the last one."
Maple River faces Belle Plaine in Friday's 8 p.m. 2AA title game at Bresnan Arena.