March is the month where each year many of the greatest sports memories are created. The Super Bowl can be a grand spectacle. The NBA Finals can be seven games of great. The MLB can still make some history and you never know when a walk-off winner will leave fans in wonder. But does anything surpass or even match the end of great basketball games? Not in this sports fans opinion.
When a team that hasn't won a championship since 1981 goes up against the reigning champions, the easiest take away could be to give the edge to the champs. I wouldn't knock anyone for taking that approach but championship games that are won based on history and not during the action are a disappointment. The North Dakota Class B championship did not disappoint!
The Indians of Four Winds/Minnewaukan lead for most of the game but they suffered a familiar fate. With about five minutes remaining in the contest their approach changed from aggressive and effective to more methodical, trying to get the clock to run out. The dishonor of most momentous loss after a big deal still probably goes to the Golden Gophers from the Insight Bowl back in the mid 2000's. That history means little, if anything to the boys from FW/M!
They began to play not to lose while Hillsboro - Central Valley played to win. They tied the game with seconds remaining and I was just hoping for overtime. The Burros didn't feel like obliging that, and I can't blame them for it. With the seconds running down Senior Kyle Henningsgard made his own March Madness dream come true. After finding many of his shots fell ineffectively from the rim, his shots began to fall when they counted most and he almost single handedly shifted the momentum of his team's offense. So it was absolutely fitting that he took the last shot and he buried it & the dreams of a repeat in a single motion. A great moment, even hundreds of miles away in their home town and for the fans in Fargo.
"After Oak Grove lost, I was all in rooting for the Burros!"
Said one fan who tuned in to the TV broadcast
Congratulations Hillsboro - Central Valley for winning the North Dakota Class B championship!
Player of the game
Finishing a game winning shot will almost universal get one POTG recognition. Great job Kyle Henningsgard!
If it weren't for his teammates the shot wouldn't have had the magnitude that it did. In particular Tanner Linnell & Jack Camrud made contributions requisite of honorable mention.