Otter Boys Upset Cardinals in Close Quarterfinal Playoff Game

Otter Senior Micah Johnson during a game in St. Cloud. (FF Boys Basketball Facebook Page)

Fergus Falls, MN – In a thrilling match Wednesday night, the number 6-seeded Fergus Falls Otters defeated the number 3-seeded Willmar Cardinals in the Section 8AAA quarterfinal round boys basketball playoff game.

The game was tied 40-40 at halftime and 70-70 at the end of regulation. They played through 17 lead changes with the final lead change coming at the end of overtime when senior Micah Johnson drained a corner 3 to lift the Otters to an 80-79 win.

“I am so proud of our kids,” said head coach Matt Johnson. “What an incredible high school basketball game. Lots of shot making going on throughout the game. Micah was so solid tonight. He played like a senior and led like a senior, as he has all season. His teammates have so much respect for him and they trust him on the court. We didn’t really execute our defensive game plan very well tonight, but we overcame that with our shooting.”

With the win, Fergus Falls will host the semifinal game against Sauk Rapids-Rice on Saturday night. The Storm, the number seven seed, upset second-seeded St. Cloud Apollo, 77-62 in their quarterfinal round game, which led to the Otters, as the higher seed at number 6, to wind up with a home game in the semi’s.