Lakeville North edges Maple Grove in overtime in girls' basketball

This year, the call went Lakeville North's way.

With three seconds left in overtime and the score tied 66-66, sophomore guard Lauren Jensen corralled a defensive rebound and turned to head up court. She ran into two Maple Grove players, and as she tried to split them, a whistle was blown and a foul called on Maple Grove.

The clock read 0.3 seconds.

Jensen went to the line and made both free throws, giving the Panthers a 68-66 overtime victory Wednesday in the Class 4A quarterfinals at Target Center.

"Free throws? That's what you practice all the time at the end of a workout. I had confidence in myself," Jensen said. "Don't get me wrong, it was nerve-racking, especially because I had time to think."

Maple Grove coach Mark Cook had no issue with the call despite its unfortunate timing.

"I thought the officials called a really good game," he said. "That one call wasn't a make-or-break situation. It was everything that led up to that."

The Crimson scored six consecutive points in the extra session, taking a 66-62 lead, before Lakeville North (25-5) battled back on a jumper by Jensen and a clutch putback by Taylor Brown that tied the score at 66.

Jensen finished with a game-high 31 points. Autumn Mlinar had 19 to lead Maple Grove (24-6).

Jensen's clutch shots provided a little salve for Lake-ville North from the 2017 state tournament. The lack of a call in the final seconds might have cost the Panthers a victory in the state semifinals over eventual champion Elk River.