Clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch sparked a 26-12 run as the Park Rapids boys basketball team rallied for a 70-61 win at Menahga Tuesday night.
The Panthers trailed 49-44 with 7:47 to play before a 9-2 run provided a 53-51 lead with 2:55 to play. Kyle Goplerud's layup and jump shot, Jordan McCollum's 3-pointer and Cory Gartner's layup sparked that run as Park Rapids would lead the rest of the way.
Consecutive layups by Rilee Johnson pushed the lead to 57-51 with 1:47 to go before six free throws by Kyle Goplerud and two free throws apiece by Chris Goplerud and McCollum in the final 1:36 sealed the win.
This game went back-and-forth and featured five ties and six lead changes.
After 3-pointers by Chris Goplerud and Tyler McCollum and a layup by Johnson gave Park Rapids an 8-2 lead with 14:45 to play in the first half, the Braves responded as a pair of layups by Tanner Schwartz and a jumper by Stetson Burkman provided an 11-8 lead at the 12:21 mark.
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Tyler McCollum hit back-to-back 3-pointers as the Panthers led 14-11 with 11:22 to play in the first half.
A layup by Burkman was followed with a 3-pointer and jumper by Bob Lusti as Menahga reclaimed an 18-14 lead at the 9:56 mark.
Chris Goplerud scored off a rebound and Johnson added a layup as the Panthers tied the game at 18-18 with 9:04 to play in the first half.
A three-point play by Burkman, a layup by Lusti and a jumper by Burkman gave Menahga a 26-21 advantage with 6:04 remaining. Two layups by Johnson and two jumpers by Chris Goplerud gave Park Rapids a 30-29 lead at the break.
A layup by Levi Schwartz and two layups and six free throws by Tanner Schwartz gave the Braves a 43-38 lead with 9:56 to play. A 3-pointer by Burkman and three-point play by Levi Schwartz kept Menahga in front 49-44 with 7:47 left before the Panthers rallied by making 11 of 12 free throws down the stretch.
Kyle Goplerud (16 points, 11 rebounds) and Chris Goplerud (14 points, 10 rebounds) had double-doubles to lead the Panthers. Johnson also scored 16 points while Jordan McCollum had 10 points and five assists. Gartner had four assists and Chris Goplerud had four steals as the Panthers improved to 8-16 on the season.
Tanner Schwartz had 22 points and nine rebounds while Burkman finished with 19 points and six rebounds for the Braves. Austen Schwarz dished out seven assists as Menahga fell to 13-11.
Menahga received the No. 7 seed in the West and will open the Section 5A tournament by hosting No. 10 Sebeka Monday night at 7. Menahga defeated Sebeka by scores of 65-60 and 64-54 during the regular season. Sebeka is 2-22 on the season. The winner of that game travels to No. 2 Browerville Thursday night at 7.
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PARK RAPIDS: Long 0 0-0 0, T. McCollum 3 0-0 9, Johnson 8 0-1 16, K. Goplerud 4 8-9 16, C. Goplerud 5 3-4 14, J. McCollum 3 2-2 10, Gartner 1 1-2 3, Jewison 1 0-1 2. Totals: 25 for 69 (FG), 14 for 19 (FT).
MENAHGA: T. Schwartz 6 9-10 22, Junes 0 0-0 0, L. Schwartz 2 4-5 8, Burkman 7 3-3 19, Johnson 0 0-0 0, Lusti 3 0-0 7, Rudquist 0 3-4 3, A. Schwartz 0 2-5 2, Taylor 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18 for 42 (FG), 21 for 27 (FT).
Halftime: Park Rapids 30, Menahga 29. Three-point field goals: T. McCollum 3, C. Goplerud 1, J. McCollum 2, T. Schwartz 1, Burkman 2, Lusti 1. Team fouls: Park Rapids 19, Menahga 18. Fouled out: L. Schwartz. Rebounds: Park Rapids 40 (K. Goplerud 11, C. Goplerud 10, J. McCollum 6, T. McCollum 5, Johnson 4, Jewison 3, Gartner 1); Menahga 27 (T. Schwartz 9, Burkman 6, L. Schwartz 5, Lusti 2, Rudquist 2, Taylor 2, Junes 1). Assists: Park Rapids 21 (J. McCollum 5, Gartner 4, Johnson 3, Long 2, T. McCollum 2, K. Goplerud 2, C. Goplerud 2, Jewison 1); Menahga15 (A. Schwartz 7, T. Schwartz 4, Junes 2, Burkman 1, Lusti 1). Steals: Park Rapids 8 (C. Goplerud 4, Johnson 2, J. McCollum 1, K. Goplerud 1); Menahga 5 (Burkman 2, L. Schwartz 1, Lusti 1, A. Schwartz 1). Blocked shots: Park Rapids 1 (T. McCollum); Menahga 3 (T. Schwartz 1, Burkman 1, Taylor 1). Turnovers: Park Rapids 9, Menahga 14.
Pelican Rapids defeats Panthers
Five players scored in double figures to lead a balanced attack as Pelican Rapids defeated the Panthers 63-47 last Saturday night at Pelican Rapids.
Tucker Forsgren (15), Devin Schell (11), Devon Hensch (11), Nathan Sillerud (11) and Travis Haugen (10) all scored in double figures as the Vikings improved to 18-6. Pelican Rapids is rated No. 8 in the latest state Class AA poll.
Tyler McCollum's 15 points and Johnson's 10 points and seven rebounds led the Panthers.
PARK RAPIDS: Long 0 0-0 0, T. McCollum 5 2-2 15, Johnson 5 0-2 10, K. Goplerud 3 0-0 6, C. Goplerud 4 1-3 9, Massie 1 0-0 2, J. McCollum 0 0-0 0, Gartner 0 0-0 0, Waller 0 1-2 1, Derman 1 0-0 2. Totals: 19 for 58 (FG), 6 for 12 (FT).
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PELICAN RAPIDS: Forsgren 15, Schell 11, Hensch 11, Sillerud 11, Haugen 10, Gorton 5.
Halftime: Pelican Rapids 38, Park Rapids 18. Three-point field goals: T. McCollum 3. Rebounds: Park Rapids 33 (Johnson 7, C. Goplerud 7, T. McCollum 6, Jewison 5, K. Goplerud 4, Long 1, J. McCollum 1, Waller 1, Derman 1). Assists: Park Rapids 8 (J. McCollum 3, Johnson 2, Massie 1, K. Goplerud 1, C. Goplerud 1). Steals: Park Rapids 9 (Johnson 3, T. McCollum 2, Massie 1, K. Goplerud 1, Gartner 1, C. Goplerud 1). Blocked shots: Park Rapids 1 (T. McCollum). Team fouls: Park Rapids 19. Turnovers: Park Rapids 14.
