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Season ends in the semifinals

By Tom Schardin, 03/01/15, 9:45PM CST

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For third time in four seasons, the Prior Lake boys basketball team fell short of the Section 2AAAA title game.

The sixth-seeded Lakers couldn't slow down sophomore Myles Hanson, who guided second-seeded Chaska to a 75-61 semifinal win Feb. 28 at Apple Valley High School.

The Lakers finished the season with a 13-15 overall mark (10-8 in the South Suburban Conference). Prior Lake lost in overtime in the semifinals last year and in 2012 to Shakopee and Chanhassen, respectively.

Prior Lake is 3-12 in the playoffs since becoming a Class 4A program at the start of the 2003-04 season. The Lakers are 29-27 overall (19-17 in the SSC) in two years under coach Dan Rubischko.

The Hawks took control of the semifinal game late in the first half, leading the Lakers 18-10 after five minutes of play. Payton Sanders nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to put the Hawks up 39-28 at the break.

Chaska kept the Lakers at arm's length most of the second half as Hanson scored 18 of his game-high 29 points in the final 18 minutes.

The Hawks led 48-34 with 14:16 to play, was up 61-53 with 4:10 remaining and held a 65-57 advantage with two minutes to go.

For Prior Lake, the loss was the end for six Prior Lake seniors - Kevin McKiernan, Connor Bair, Austin Heidecker, Sam Schultze, Lucas Olson and Isaiah Sims. They were all a big part of the Lakers' rotation, so they'll need to be replaced next winter.

Junior Jack Kortes led the Lakers against Chaska with 13 points, while McKiernan scored 12. A complete scoring summary of the game has not been made available.

The Lakers finished the season, winning four of their last six games, including knocking off third-seeded Bloomington Jefferson 64-50 in the quarterfinals Feb. 25.