Boys Basketball: Boldt’s layup propels Wingers past Farmington

Farmington will be happy if it never sees Ryan Boldt on a basketball court again – let alone a baseball field.

The Red Wing senior guard knocked down the game-winning layup with five seconds left in the Wingers’ 61-59 victory Friday in Farmington after hitting a game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer Jan. 15 in Red Wing. The Wingers ended up losing that game in overtime but Boldt made sure Friday’s game ended in regulation. He finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

“We wanted Ryan to attack the basket and if they helped, kick it out to Ty (Buck) or throw it to Isaac (Toivonen) on the weak side. They didn’t help and he was able to get to the basket,” Red Wing head coach Doug Toivonen said. “It wasn’t a wide-open basket but it was a good look.”

Boldt’s ability to make the final play was helped by Buck’s big night. Buck tallied a game-high 26 points, including seven 3-pointers, and grabbed five rebounds for the Wingers (11-8, 3-5 Missota).

“With Ty shooting so well, they’d really have to get up on him,” Doug Toivonen said. “That just opens it up even more. We had guys that they had to be concerned with.”

Isaac Toivonen added 11 points and six rebounds in the win.

The game was tied 34-34 at halftime Friday night but the Tigers were able to gain control and led 57-51 with three minutes remaining. From that point, Doug Toivonen said Red Wing played lockdown defense and Buck scored six straight points to cut the lead.

“We really played great defense at that point,” he said. “To be down by six and to come up with the plays offensively and defensively to win the game was huge for us.”

Farmington got one final heave at the buzzer that missed. During the January meeting between the two teams, it was the Tigers who rallied from a deficit to win and the Wingers were happy to return the favor.

“We talked about before the game that we felt like we let one get away and we maybe stole one back tonight,” Doug Toivonen said.

Zach Speikers led the Tigers (11-9, 4-4 Missota) with 18 points and six rebounds and Mackinley Bassett contributed 15 points. Farmington shot 50 percent from the field but turned the ball over 12 times and allowed eight offensive rebounds in the loss.

Red Wing hosts Holy Angels Tuesday.

Tags: boys basketball, red wing, sports, prep