The concept of hyperbole doesn’t exist when talking about the Waseca High School-Marshall High School basketball game on Thursday.
The Minnesota state tournament qualifier produced one of the most classic basketball games you’ll see, and it’s just lucky it came about at an age when the Internet and social media could document it.
A game that included four overtimes and three buzzer-beaters sent Waseca to the state tournament, but tracing how the 1,000-student school advanced is a study in pure joy.
First, the shot that was nearly fatal for Waseca. Down three with three seconds left, Marshall sprinted up the court and put up a 3 that hit the back of the rim and died there — a thud that led to more rolling than bouncing, until it fell through the hoop, tying the game.
That was only the start of the insanity. Two made free throws brought the game to a second overtime, and a last-minute steal and bucket made it three.
And this is where a crazy high school basketball game becomes the stuff of legend.
Third overtime, one second left, Waseca down three, ball being inbounded under their own basket. Nick Dufault crosses across the middle of the court — but still beneath his own hoop — when he catches the inbounds and lets it fly from the other free-throw line:
That’s it, right? Nope, only tied the game and forced a fourth OT.
The last extra period was a letdown in that its buzzer-beater was of the everyday, 3-pointer variety. With the score tied at 100, Waseca broke Marshall’s full-court trap by finding Cole Streich open cross court. Streich raced down as Marshall’s remaining defenders backpedaled, giving him space for the pull-up at the (final) buzzer.
