The Springfield Tigers put up a valiant effort in the Section 2A, South Subsection Boys Basketball Finals on Monday, but ultimately fell short against Mountain Lake Area/Comfrey with a final score of 82-74. Despite trailing by 15 points in the second half, the Tigers managed to cut the deficit to just 5 points with a minute left in the game.
Springfield’s Bryan Buerkle led the team with 21 points and eight rebounds, followed by Ben Potter with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Brayden Sturm contributed 16 points, five rebounds, and eight assists, while Noah Vogel added 11 points to the scoreboard.
The Tigers struggled against MLA/C’s strong perimeter defense in the first half, but managed to find their rhythm in the second half. A late surge saw Springfield narrowing the gap, but they were unable to maintain the momentum in the final moments of the game.
Despite the loss, head coach Lance Larson commended his team for exceeding expectations this season, with an impressive record of 21-8 and a share of the Tomahawk Conference title. Larson expressed optimism for the future, noting the team’s strong core of players returning next season.
Overall, the Tigers may have fallen short in the finals, but their resilience and determination throughout the season have set a solid foundation for future success.