PREP BOYS' BASKETBALL: Kramer breaks school record to lead SSC over defending state champion Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — Sparked by an amazing 42-point performance from junior forward Andrew Kramer Tuesday night, the fifth-seeded Southwest Star Concept Quasars led from start to finish and held on down the stretch to claim an exciting 75-68 victory over the fourth-seeded and defending Class A state champion Springfield Tigers in the quarterfinal round of the Section 2A South high school boys’ basketball tournament.

The Quasars, who have won five of their last seven games and improve to 15-9 overall (12-2 on the road), advance to the sub-section semifinals Thursday night in Mankato where they will take on the top-seeded Mankato Loyola Crusaders (18-7) at 7 p.m.

Kramer poured in 21 points in each half to set SSC’s single-game scoring record of 42 points — connecting on nine two-point baskets, firing in five 3-pointers (four in the first half) and going 9-for-15 from the free-throw line (8-for-13 in the second half). Kramer scored 18 of the Quasars’ first 28 points to help SSC jump out to impressive leads that included 7-0, 21-7 (at the 11-minute mark) and 30-15 (with 3:15 on the clock).

The Quasars then extended a 34-22 halftime advantage to 41-22 by scoring the first seven points of the second half and maintained a near 10-point lead throughout most of the final 14 minutes of action.

But Springfield, which finishes its season with a record of 12-11 after capping a 26-3 campaign with the state title in 2011, hung around and launched a furious comeback in the closing moments.

SSC led 69-59 with 1:24 remaining, but Springfield buried a trio of 3-pointers during the next 40 seconds and trimmed the gap to two (70-68) with less than 40 seconds to go.

Kramer, though, helped the Quasars seal the win by sinking five of six free throws in the last 27.6 seconds — including two with 17.3 seconds left to make it 74-68 and one with five seconds showing to provide the final margin of 75-68.

Jameson Collin turned in a 12-point, 15-rebound double-double for SSC, while Zach Schumacher (four rebounds, two blocks) and Luke Henkels (five assists) each scored seven points for the Quasars. Justin Jass contributed six rebounds, five assists and three points, and both Austin Liepold and Mark Ferguson added a basket in the first half.

Alex Fink and Tyler Vogel led Springfield with 18 and 17 points, respectively. Christopher Kretsch and Isaac Kirschstein each scored nine points for the Tigers, who outscored the Quasars 46-41 in the second half.

SSC 34 41 — 75

Springfield 22 46 — 68

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