Fridley Freshmen Win Minnesota Sports Federation Boys Basketball Tourney

The ninth-grade boys basketball team triumphed at the Minnesota Sports Federation state tournament over the weekend, winning by one point in overtime on Sunday against a Wayzata team that had beaten them by two points the day before.

The Saturday loss, by a score of 34-32, was the first of four games for the Tigers. Victories over teams from Irondale and Woodbury led to the rematch with Wayzata in the title game Sunday at Bethel University.

Strong defensive play was one key to the Fridley win, while Hunnaan Khan and Luke Prosser led the offense that proved just enough in the end. Ismail Ali had an outstanding game driving to the basket and didn't miss a single free throw.  Pat Whalen provided solid three-point shots that helped the team throughout the tournament. Near the end of the championship game, Nick Rathke missed a free throw and made his second, giving Fridley a three-point lead and the score that ended up making the one-point differential.