The Minnetonka boys basketball team put its practice to use during a pair of come-from-behind victories over the weekend.
It started when three steals in the final minute Friday led to a 73-70 victory over visiting Buffalo. The Skippers made a bigger surge Saturday in the Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Border Battle at Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School, finishing on a 25-3 run to defeat Wisconsin Grafton 86-76. Grafton is ranked 10th in Wisconsin’s Division 2.
The Skippers, ranked third in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, even practice being behind.
“Basketball is a game of runs,” Skippers coach Bryce Tesdahl said. “Things are not always going to go your way. We practice having to come back in games. We talk about taking it possession by possession. We have an experienced team at the varsity level. It was a true test of character.”
Jordan Cain made the first big defensive play against Buffalo, taking the ball away from the Bison ballhandler and giving the Skippers the lead for good, 69-68, with 53 seconds left. Greyson Uelmen followed with a steal and layup and sealed the victory by stealing the ball before the Bison could get a shot off.
“That has been kind of routine,” Tesdahl said. “[Cain, Uelmen and Andy Stefonowicz] are some of the best players in the metro at deflecting balls and creating turnovers. We have done a very good job of turning them into points.”
On Saturday, Grafton led by 12 points with six minutes left, before the Skippers rallied to improve to 11-1.
“Our execution of the game plan improved,” Tesdahl said. “We got easier baskets and took away the things they were trying to do. Our spacing and timing were better.”