New Ulm bows out battling

Eagles push Waseca in 4-point 2AAA tourney loss

By ANDY ROGERS

Journal Sports Editor

WASECA -- The New Ulm Eagles came within four points of a major upset Wednesday.

As the top seed in the Section 2-3A subsection, the Waseca Bluejays (18-4) edged the No. 8 seed New Ulm Eagles (3-19) 61-57 and advanced to the semifinals against Albert Lea, who defeated Mankato West 38-35 Wednesday.

"We wanted to play for 32 minutes and have the opportunity to win at the end of the game and that's what we did," Eagles coach Pat Burmeister said. "They just ended up on top."

After losing to Waseca twice in the regular season, the Eagles kept it a lot closer for the playoffs.

"I think they knew we'd come in a play them tough, but I think it surprised them a bit that when we hung in that long," Burmeister said. "Especially with some players out."

With a number of Eagles' players missing from the lineup, it was almost a different team than Waseca saw last time. Three players were out of the lineup including Bob Wellmann who was out with an injury.

The coach says he couldn't be prouder of the way they played.

"They practiced hard -- got better," Burmeister said. "They came in tonight and gutted it out. We had the lead a few times."

The Bluejays were led by Kellen Driscoll with 21 points and Colby Swenson who had 19. The Eagles were led by Andy Walden with 16 points, including some key threes. Eric Austvold added 11.

New Ulm led 11-9 in after the first quarter off threes by Austvold, Walden and Dan Boettger.

The lead changed a few times before the Eagles broke away with a three-point shot by Walden to lead 28-24. But the Bluejays cut the deficit to 28-27 before the end of the half.

Waseca came out with a sense of urgency in the third quarter scoring 11 points in the first two and a half minutes to take the lead 37-33.

But the Eagles wouldn't go quietly as they came within one point twice in the third with scores of 38-37 and 43-42.

The Bluejays gained momentum going into the fourth quarter on a last-second three by Pat Nelson, increasing their lead 46-42.

But the game went down to the wire as the Eagles came within one with five minutes to play with the score 49-48. and again with four minutes left at 51-50 with a Walden three.

But Waseca's top player Driscoll answered the threatening Eagles with a three.

Waseca increased its lead to 60-53 after the Eagles sent them to the free-throw line three times.

"I don't think the fouls were really the difference," Burmeister said. "But we didn't get to the free-throw line ourselves."

New Ulm came back on a jumper by Derik Johnson, and a layup by Walden brought the team back, but it wasn't enough.

"Hopefully, we can make some more improvements over the summer and pick up where we left off next year," Burmeister said. "Hopefully, we'll be playing at home next time this year."