The Worthington Trojans cut a 15-point second-half deficit all the way down to two Wednesday night but ended up just falling just short against Hutchinson, 57-55, in a Section 2AAA boys basketball quarterfinal game at the WHS gym.
After a missed one-and-one free throw for Hutchinson with 5.7 seconds remaining, the Trojans rebounded and hurried the ball to just across halfcourt, then called timeout with 2.0 seconds left. Kaleb Knothe inbounded and got the ball to Zach Hayenga, whose deep 3-pointer hit the rim and bounced away to end the game.
The Tigers were ahead of WHS by nine with two and half minutes remaining, but Hayenga made a putback to make it 57-50 with 2:20 left, forcing a Hutchinson timeout. A little more than a minute later, Hayenga nailed a 3-pointer from the left corner for a 57-55 score with 1:07 to go, and the Tigers called timeout once more.
An offensive foul on Hutchinson gave Worthington a chance to tie or take the lead, but the Trojans missed a tough shot on that possession and then had to foul. The missed Tigers’ free throw came next, setting the stage for the final sequence.
WHS scored the first four points of the first half, but Hutchinson went on a 13-2 run to take a 13-6 lead, which provoked the Trojans to call for time with 11:47 left before halftime. The fifth-seeded Tigers led the No. 4 Trojans by as many as 13 and took a 12-point lead into the break thanks to a Kaden Butler 3 right before the buzzer.
The Butlers did it for the Tigers on Wednesday, as Logan Butler scored 25 points and Kaen Butler had 19. For Worthington, Hayenga led the offense with 18 points. Andrew Mulder had 16, and Jacari Swinea added 15. The Trojans end the year with a 14-12 record.
**
Also in Section 2AAA boys basketball Wednesday, Mankato West defeated Marshall 88-54.
In the Section 3A South Subsection girls basketball title game Tuesday night, Southwest Minnesota Christian beat Edgerton 82-56. The Eagles next face Minneota on Friday for the right to go to state.
In the Section 3AA South Subsection title game girls hoops Tuesday, Windom beat Fairmont 75-71. Windom will play New London-Spicer on Friday for a state tourney berth.
In the Section 2A boys basketball playoffs Tuesday, it was Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 77, Martin County West 32.
