![Osseo's Johnson Fallah (30) and teammates celebrate their 61-57 win over Park Center during the boys' basketball Class 4A, Section 5 championship at Rogers High, in Rogers, MN.] DAVID JOLES ï david.joles@startribune.com boys' basketball Class 4A, Section 5 championship, Park Center vs. Osseo at Rogers High, in Rogers, MN.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/5RHLW6H4WYAUF66LD2VBSI6AOQ.jpg?&w=1080)
On paper, the Class 4A, Section 5 boys' basketball final looked like a mismatch: Top-seeded Park Center — long and athletic and talented — against Osseo, the No. 3 seed with no player taller than 6-3.
But Osseo had been in big games before and knew there was more to winning basketball than simply physical skill. The Orioles showed as much, playing gritty defense and working tirelessly on offense to emerge with a 61-57 victory Friday at Rogers High School.
"We are really short," Osseo coach Tim Theisen said. "They might be 6-2, but they play like they're 6-6. Our guys never quit. We don't pass the eye test, but these guys play much bigger than what they are."
It was the third game between the Northwest Suburban Conference rivals, having split the first two. The last one, a 14-point Park Center victory, factored in Friday's result.
Osseo (23-6) kept finding openings behind the Park Center defense for easy baskets, a change from the last game.
"They were pressing us, so we did get easy looks at the basket," Theisen said. "The last time we played them, that didn't happen."
The Orioles defense made life miserable for the Pirates. Park Center 6-9 sophomore Dain Dainja was repeatedly moved off the low block as Osseo made Park Center (24-5) win from the outside.
"We wanted to take away the inside game first and let them shoot from the outside," Theisen said.
