Macura's long-range skill lifts Lakeville North

The list of things JP Macura has yet to accomplish in his high school basketball career was culled by one Thursday night.

The 6-5 senior shooting guard made a game-winning 30-foot three-pointer as the buzzer sounded, giving Lake-ville North a 55-52 victory over Cretin-Derham Hall and sending the Panthers to the Class 4A final for the second time in three years.

"I've been a decoy on those kind of plays a lot, but I've never had the chance to make the shot," said Macura, who scored 31 of the Panthers' 55 points. "I was thinking 'It's about time.' I've put in too much work not to make that shot."

His big shot, which came from farther away than nearly everyone but Macura felt comfortable, polished off the Raiders after they battled the more physical Panthers basket for basket. Only once did either team lead by more than six points — Lakeville North was up 21-14 in the first half — and the score was tied nine times.

Cretin-Derham Hall pushed Macura around, goading him into four fouls, including a technical that sent him to the bench in the second half. But Macura responded as scorers do, returning to the game knowing what he had to do.

"The more covered he is, the tougher the shot, the better he is," Lakeville North coach John Oxton said.

To finish off a career during which he became one of Minnesota's most highly recruited players (he committed to Xavier in November) and made a reputation as a scorer with nearly unlimited range, Macura now has a chance for one final milestone: a state championship.