Holden Mohs

Staff Reporter
The Orono boys basketball team displayed great talent this year from beginning to end. There is only one right way to end such an amazing season and that is exactly what they did. They won the Class 3A boys’ State basketball tournament.
Defeating Columbia Heights for the championship with a final score of 85-76, Orono snagged their first ever state basketball title. “Even just getting there is an honor,” stated Athletic Director Bucky Mieras.
It was a tough road with some close calls, such as the semifinal game against Waconia, whom they had lost to before. This game was the closest with a final score of  50-48.
“They created their own opportunities even when things didn’t go according to plan,” Mieras said.
The team was tighter than ever this year. “We know that when one of our players goes out we have another one right there to pick up the slack,” said OHS senior Jeremy Borg. Fellow senior Jordan Smith finished with 21 points even after getting three fouls in the first half.  Junior Brady Wohler stepped up and scored a team-high of 23 points.
Borg and senior Erik Peterson scored their tournament highs in points, with 19 and 11 points respectively.
Throughout the game, the fans on both sides of the Target Center erupted in cheers as their team captured the lead.  The last minutes of the game were tight with both teams putting up points.
“Heights made a run with a few minutes left; I got a little nervous but it never occurred to me that we would lose,” claimed Smith.
The game got within four points near the end. Brady Wohler said,  “I started to get a little nervous but I believed in my team and we pulled through in the end.”
The team had many memorable moments this year, but one of their favorites was after winningthe games. “Two words, Robo-Dougie. Rob Anderson really puts the bow on top when he breaks it down to some beats in the locker room. He has made a tradition of dancing to “Teach Me How to Dougie” after our wins this year,” explained OHS junior Grant Schoen. “This last dance was by far the best, considering we had a guy in there to videotape it, I’m not sure if it got on TV or not though.”
For Mieras, the best part of the season was, “watching all the pieces fall into place like they did.”
“The team played as one solid unit this season. We peaked right at the end of the season, going on a streak, and proving to all the doubters that we deserved a state championship,” explained Schoen. The boys never gave up, even after some set backs. “We have played together for 10 years and know how to play together better than anyone in the state and that’s why we won,” said Smith.