The furious comeback by the Chaska Boys Basketball team fell short against undefeated Eden Prairie on Friday, Dec. 19. Chaska was led by junior Tyler Forrest, who scored 38 points.
The final shot sat on the rim for what felt like an eternity.
With less than three seconds on the clock, Chaska sophomore Chase Maetzold caught a perfectly designed inbounds pass from senior Matthew Welter and went up strong underneath the basket despite being hounded by two Eden Prairie defenders. The ball rolled around the rim as the entire gym held its breath.
It rolled out.
Eden Prairie escaped Chaska High School with a 78-76 victory on Thursday night, surviving a furious Hawks rally and a heroic 38-point performance from junior Tyler Forrest that nearly pulled off an improbable comeback against one of the state’s best teams.
For Eden Prairie, it was sweet revenge. The Hawks ended the Eagles’ season last year with an impressive 72-64 victory in the Section 2AAAA playoffs, and the Eagles came to Chaska on Thursday seeking payback.
Coming into the game, Eden Prairie was undefeated at 5-0 and boasted the highest Quality Results Formula computer ranking in the state. Chaska, sitting at 3-2, knew they would need their best effort to compete with the powerhouse Eagles.
The Hawks found themselves down early before mounting a big run in the middle of the first half. Forrest ignited the crowd with back-to-back three-pointers, while junior Kalin Jochum battled for tough inside hoops to keep the Hawks close.
But Eden Prairie reasserted control with an 8-0 run of their own. The Hawks fought back behind three-pointers from junior Eli Herzog and Forrest, but the Eagles went on a late first-half run to take a 42-33 lead into the break.
The Hawks faced a double-digit deficit for most of the second half, but refused to go away quietly. Forrest, playing at an elite level all night, converted two consecutive and-one plays that cut the lead to five. His fifth three-pointer of the game brought Chaska within four, and additional threes from Herzog and senior captain Marquis Connell kept the pressure on.
The final minutes turned contentious, with controversial calls down the stretch including a disputed technical foul that disqualified Forrest from the game. The junior captain finished with 38 points, six rebounds, five assists, three blocks and one steal before fouling out.
Even without their leading scorer, the Hawks kept battling. Freshman Jed Keenan hit crucial free throws to bring Chaska within two with just nine seconds remaining, setting up a defensive stand that would give the Hawks one final chance.
For the Hawks and their fans, the ball rolled the wrong way.
Eden Prairie survived the scare, escaping with the narrow 78-76 victory and maintaining their perfect record. For Chaska, it was a gutsy performance against one of the state’s best teams that came agonizingly close to a signature win.
The Hawks showed they could compete with anyone in the state. On this night, the difference between victory and defeat was the width of a basketball rim.
The Chaska Boys Basketball team returns to action in a holiday tournament at Shakopee on December 29 and 30, with both games starting at 4:30 p.m. The Hawks travel to rival Chanhassen on Friday, January 9.
