Taylor big in the clutch for Red Knights

Benilde-St. Margaret's senior guard Jordan Taylor helped ensure a Class 3A championship for his team Saturday by making eight of his game-high 11 free-throw attempts, but there was a time when he was not so cool under pressure.

Going to the gym for practice with his father, Louis, meant working on free throws, and missing one often resulted in the youngster's meltdown.

"I'd throw the ball against the wall and get real upset," said Taylor, who was about 10 or 11 years old then. "My dad used to tell me I would have to get mentally tougher if I was going to succeed. As I got older I realized what he was talking about."

The Wisconsin-bound Taylor scored his team's final six points on free throws, including a crucial pair that gave Benilde-St. Margaret's a 57-52 lead with 22 seconds remaining.

Red Knights coach John Moore said, "I have the best player in the state as my point guard."

Going out on top

With 31 points against Minnesota Transitions in the Class 1A championship game, Ellsworth's Cody Schilling finished his career with 3,428 points, extending his career record as the state's most prolific scorer in boys' basketball.

A victory over the Wolves for a championship, though, was always at the forefront of Schilling's mind. Ellsworth beat Minnesota Transitions 81-63 for the Panthers' second consecutive state title.

"Before I even woke up [Saturday] I was thinking, 'Win or lose, we've had a great season and I've had a great career,'" he said. "But, you know, I wanted to end out on top. And to do that is a dream come true."

Five for five

Eight times over the last 3 minutes, 8 seconds of the Class 1A championship, Transitions subbed out five players at a time.

"The strategy was that everybody in our lineup was in foul trouble or had fouled out," Wolves coach John Sherman said. "We were trying to prolong the game with some fouls, and we had to make sure those guys didn't foul.

"Plus, it's a good way to get other players in the game. I believe when you get to this level, you should get everybody into the game."

Third-place games

• Junior Nate Wolters scored his 1,000th point for St. Cloud Tech as the Tigers defeated Robbinsdale Cooper 84-71 in the Class 4A third-place game. Wolters led all scorers with 22 points. Rodney Williams scored 21 points for Cooper.

• Adam Lindblad scored with eight seconds left, giving Willmar a 64-63 victory over Minneapolis Henry in the Class 3A third-place game. Henry's Jerry Sweezy had tied the score with a three-point play with 20 seconds left. Casey Sussenguth led Willmar with 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting. Sweezy scored 19 for Henry.

• In Class 2A, Maple River came from behind to beat St. Bernard's 66-50 for third place. Seth Anderson scored 17 points, leading the Eagles.

• Cass Lake-Bena took home third place in Class 1A, defeating Norman County East 78-65. Martin Wind was one of three Panthers in double figures, leading the way with 33 points. Nate and Joel Salscheider chipped in 15 and 12 points, respectively.

Tale of two halves

Henry Sibley's Mike Bruesewitz enjoyed a first-half line of seven points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots. He also made his only free-throw attempt, accuracy he dearly missed in the second half.

The 6-8 junior forward, who has verbally committed to play at Wisconsin, missed all five of his free-throw attempts in the second half as the Warriors watched their 33-20 halftime lead slip away.

A poor free throw performance cost the Warriors the first time they played Minnetonka this season.

Minnetonka escaped Henry Sibley's gym with a 78-74 victory on Dec. 18. The visiting Skippers made six free throws in the final minute while the Warriors hit only 16 of their 28 attempts for the night.

DAVID LA VAQUE, JOHN MILLEA, BRIAN STENSAAS