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Howard Lake proves adept at beating the clock

Last update: January 28, 2008 - 11:49 PM

The Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted boys' basketball team packed a season's worth of drama into a three-game stretch that concluded last week.

The Lakers defeated Pierz 58-56 in overtime on Jan. 18, when junior guard Keith Diers hit a three-pointer at the buzzer. Diers, who averages a little more than four points per game, was the hero again Thursday, taking the inbounds pass, dribbling up court and hitting a 30-foot shot as time expired to give the Lakers a 66-63 victory over Maple Lake. The late-game dramatics continued Saturday when junior forward Zach Gangroth tipped in a rebound just as the buzzer sounded to lift the Lakers to a 63-61 overtime victory over Dassel-Cokato.

The stone wall

One look at the squad's record -- 9-13-1 overall, 1-8 in the Lake Conference -- might indicate there is nothing overly special about the Bloomington Kennedy's girls' hockey team. But the play of Eagles senior goalie Kari Hunter has been special.

Kennedy lost twice last week, but Hunter was superb, making 51 saves in a 3-1 loss to Apple Valley and 65 saves in a 6-0 loss to Eagan. They were the 11th and 12th times this season that Hunter has made 40 or more saves in a game. She has a 2.94 goals-against average but a stellar .931 save percentage.

Etc.

• Goodhue wrestling coach Bill Sutter is retiring after 39 years. Sutter is the second-winningest coach in state history, having coached the Wildcats to 736 victories entering the season and Class 1A state titles in 1980 and 2001. His last regular-season meet is Feb. 7 at Goodhue.

• Former St. Cloud State hockey player Roxy Stang has been named girls' hockey interim head coach at Princeton. Stang, who had been an assistant coach, replaces former coach Heath Isaacson.

• The St. Bernard's boys' basketball team's 90-61 victory over St. Paul Arlington was the Bulldogs' 33rd consecutive home victory, dating to December 2005.

• St. Paul Highland Park lineman Jordan Eaton verbally committed to play at South Dakota next season. Eaton, a two-way lineman in high school, is expected to play defensive line in college.

JIM PAULSEN AND JON MARTHALER