Prep Boys Basketball: Pequot Lakes edges Sebeka in regular season finale, 71-68

Two ranked teams collided in Pequot Lakes on Saturday afternoon to wrap up the regular season in a well-played game. The host team used a fast start in the first half to hand the Class A, second-ranked Sebeka Trojans their second loss of the season in the 71-68 non-conference victory.

The Class AA, fourth-ranked Patriots opened up with a 14-point lead, 27-13, in the first half before Sebeka rallied to pull within three at the break, 39-36. The quick start enabled Pequot Lakes to hold on for the victory when both teams scored 32 points in the second half.

“Both teams played very well in this game,” Sebeka head coach Jon Lillquist said. “Both teams had eight turnovers in the game so that shows that players were playing under control and being smart with the basketball.”

The Patriots were a bit more in control playing on their home court, going 29-for-58 (50 percent) from the field, while Sebeka was 23-for-60 (38 percent). The Trojans, however, held the advantage on the boards by outrebounding the Patriots 37-32.

“We just didn't shoot well enough to win. They hit a lot of big outside shots and we didn't cash in on our opportunities.” Lillquist explained. “I was very pleased with our rebounding as we out rebounded them and they are very big and physical so that was a big accomplishment for us.”

Sebeka’s Cody Pulju went 10-for-18 from the field—including three three-pointers—and converted 6-of-7 free-throws to lead all scorers with 29 points. The senior also had four rebounds, an assist and three steals. Ryan Sharp nearly posted a triple-double with 18 points, a team-high 14 boards and eight assists. He also had five blocked shots in the loss.

"Cody really had a great game, he came up with big play after big play all game long," said Lillquist. "It was great seeing Ryan getting back into form. He attacked the basket and made some big baskets. He looked like himself in the second half and we needed to see that out of him."

John Clark was one-point shy of a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds, and added a pair of assists and blocked shots. Paul Funk went 3-for-4 from the charity stripe and hit a trey to finish with six points.

Pequot Lakes had three players post double figures as the Patriots closed out the regular season on a 10-game win streak.

Kurtis Moody led Pequot Lakes with a team-high 26 points, with Tomas Parker adding 11 and Nevin Greer 10. The Patriots (22-4) secured the No. 2 seed in the West Sub-Section 8AA playoffs that start on Thursday. They will host No. 7 Wadena-Deer Creek at 7 p.m.

Sebeka (24-2) locked up the top-seed in the West Sub-Section 5A playoffs and will host the winner between No. 8 Pine River-Backus and No. 9 Swanville at 7 p.m. Thursday.

"The boys really showed me some heart in this game," Lillquist added. "I am very proud of their effort and determination. Even though it was a loss, I think we can many things we learned from this game with us into playoffs."

Sebeka at Pequot Lakes on March 5
Patriots 71, Trojans 68
Sebeka 36 32—68
Pequot Lakes 39 32—71
Sebeka
Jason Sharp 5, John Clark 9, Cody Pulju 29, Paul Funk 6, Ryan Sharp 18, Reid Redetzke 1
Pequot Lakes
Jordan Anderson 4, Logan Lange 5, Brian Craig 4, Nevin Greer 10, Riley Johnson 3, Kurtis Moody 26, Steve Duval 8, Tomas Parker 11
Scoring summary received 5:55 p.m. Saturday, March 5 (BB); Summary/quotes received via mass email 9:32 a.m. Sunday, March 6 (BB, RM, SC)