We popped over to the Class 1A boys' basketball tournament at Williams Arena this afternoon. When we arrived, first-time tourney entrant Fond du Lac Ojibwe had a 17-point lead with 12 minutes to play over Canby. It seemed as though the Ogichidaag would coast to the finish.

And then ...

Canby went on a 19-2 run to tie the game 58-58 with about five minutes left. And that was just the beginning.

Both teams looked gassed toward the end of regulation, but Fond du Lac looked particularly winded. Two of the team's top players ended up fouling out, but it's a good thing Davonte Williamson didn't.

As the game went from regulation (he scored four key points down the stretch to force overtime) to a first OT session (he blocked a shot on a fast break to end the first session knotted at 73) to a second overtime (he had the only basket for his team) to finally a third overtime (he had countless key rebounds and assists), Fond du Lac finally prevailed 85-82 in 3OT.

Williams played all 48 minutes. He was exhausted afterward; he smiled about it when we talked to him afterward, but at the time there was no chance he was running off the court with his teammates. He staggered off slowly, satisfied but dragging.

On a team with virtually no height (6-1 is about as good as it gets), Williamson offered 23 points and 20 rebounds. It was a remarkable performance in one of the most remarkable games we have ever seen.

We'll have video up later on Startribune.com that hopefully captures the spirit of the thing -- not just the game, but what this all means for the Fond du Lac community.