The crowd at Three Lakes School went deathly silent as Morgan Otsig went to the line for two free throws with just 2:45 left in the fourth quarter.

It's a cliche to say you could hear a pin drop, but it was true.

Morgan made one of her shots - but the Avengers were still down 30-27 to the Kenaston Kodiaks in the semi-final of last weekend's girls basketball tournament.

It had been less a basketball game than a boxing match, as each team tried to smash its way through the other's defence. Avenger Jenna Brockman drove again and again to the Kodiaks net, only to be met by a forest of arms denying her a clean shot. 

The first quarter ended with a score of 11-10 for the Kodiaks. It included a stretch of six minutes where a total of one point was scored. Three Lakes picked up five fouls, while the Kenaston coach got himself a technical for his vocal (and arguably justified) indignation at multiple Avengers swarming one of his players without getting called.

The second half ended 17-15 for Three Lakes. The Kodiaks clawed back a 22-21 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The gym was packed. I counted well over 100 people, from parents to a handful of grandfathers perched on the back corner of the stage to other community members. Basketball is a big deal in Middle Lake - I accompanied my fiancee, a former Avenger who a decade later can still recite the prayer the team says before every game.

After Otsig had brought Three Lakes back to within three points, a Kenaston player spun and shook her defender for a split second, just enough time to score a midrange two-point basket. Another Kodiak sunk a three on the next possession, finally landing a knockout blow. Kenaston went on to win 41-34.

Middle Lake took on traditional rival Lake Lenore in the game to determine third place in the tournament. This time Otsig hit threes early and often and the Lancers didn't have an answer for Brockman, and Three Lakes cruised to a relatively comfortable 50-41 victory.

That's not the result they wanted, but their fans were no less entertained by their play.