Staff report
MINSTER — Minster ended the regular season with a victory in boys basketball action Monday night, but not without some anxious moments.
Minster added a game with Toledo Waite to replace the season opener with Spencerville, which was cancelled because of a lengthy run in football at Minster. And it resulted in quite a thriller to end the regular campaign, the Wildcats winning 74-69 in overtime.
The win gives Minster a 12-9 record heading into postseason play, which will begin for the Wildcats on Friday at Allen East against the winner of the New Knoxville-Lima Temple Christian first-round game.
Minster had to battle back after falling behind 18-12 after one quarter, and that included outscoring Waite by four in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime. The Wildcats then outscored Waite 10-5 in the extra period.
Aaron Ernst had a huge game for Minster, finishing with 25 points, including three three-pointers and 8-for-9 from the free throw line.
Jarod Schulze had 11 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, Mike Ketner had 10 points, and Isaac Dorsten just missed a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds, five coming at the offensive end.
Minster shot well, hitting 26 of 56 for 46 percent, and did an outstanding job on the boards. They outrebounded Waite 40-26, and 16 of those rebounds came at the offensive end. In addition to Dorsten’s five offensive rebounds, Schulze and Cody Frericks had four each and Ketner three.
Ketner also added three steals and Bryce Schmiesing had three assists.
Waite, which finishes regular-season play 13-9, hit 26 of 64 from the field, 42 percent.
Toledo Waite (69) — Sanders 11, Booth 13, Holmes 7, Wells 3, Leach 20, Banks 15.
Minster (74) — I. Schmiesing 7, B. Schmiesing 5, Ketner 10, Ernst 25, Frericks 7, Schulze 11, Dorsten 9.
Score by quarters:
`1`2`3`4`OT
Waite`18`38`47`64`69
Minster`12`31`43`64`74
Three-pointers: Waite 5 (Banks 4, Holmes); Minster 4 (Ernst 3, I. Schmiesing).
Records: Minster 12-9, Toledo Waite 13-9.
Reserve score: Minster 63, Waite 29.
