• Video: Highlights from the Overton-Humphrey St. Francis game:
• Photo Showcase: Friday's semifinals
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Overton tried to break away from Humphrey St. Francis' comeback range twice in Friday's semifinal match but couldn't.
Third time was the charm.
On the wings of the Eagles' leading scorer this season, Overton coach Jay Staehr's team battled mistakes and emotions on their way to the class D1 finals, defeating the Flyers 54-46.
Overton's final break away came after Jacob Olmstead a three pointer with 2:20 remaining in the game. Most of the fourth quarter was a back and forth battle, where every possession swayed the Pershing Center crowd.
“They just kept coming back,” Olmstead said. “We had to step it up and take it back to them. I had a big shot there at the end, and we made it through.”
The Eagles were able to break out to an 8-0 lead to begin the first quarter. Then in the third, Overton scored six straight points, expanding their six-point halftime lead to 32-21. Both times St. Francis came back.
Dillon Bender's three in the fourth quarter tied the game at 42, giving St. Francis the momentum. Something the Flyers were unable to sustain.
After two and a half minutes of traded possessions came Olmstead's three. With plenty of chances to put the game out of reach, Staehr said his team went into cruise control.
“We weren't smart with the ball,” Staehr said. “It seemed like 7 or 8 straight possession we turned the ball over. It seemed like the kids weren't playing to win.”
In the final minutes, St Fanccis was unable to make the baskets they needed. The Flyers' two leading scorers, Casey Wallen and Tent Claussen, both scored 11 points, but their efforts weren't enough.
“We got into a rush offensively,” St. Francis coach Eric Kessler said. “Sometimes that works, it hurt us when Nick (Krings) was out. When it came down to that last three minutes, you've got to make plays. We just didn't do it.”
Overton (20-3) ……………....…13 14 9 18 -- 54
Humphrey St. Francis (17-6)...........9 12 14 11 -- 46
• O: Jared Shafer 16, Jacob Olmstead 15, Zach Olmstead 8, Brady Weiss 6, Jacob Jensen 5, Jared Hodgson 4,
• HSF: Casey Wallen 11, Trent Classen 11, Nick Krings 8, Matt Korus 7, Britton Tasa 5, Blake Krings 4,
• Officials:, Jared Draeger, Beau Heiss, Jacob Wolf
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