MINNEAPOLIS -- A scene that Bob Torgrimson described as being "right up there" with any in his 35-year coaching career -- and he's won three state titles -- begs for elaboration.
First, the logistics: Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton closed on a 17-2 run to rally from seven down in the fourth quarter to beat Concordia Academy 55-47 in the third-place game of the Minnesota Class 2A boys basketball tournament Saturday at Augsburg College.
"I better get down there and cry a little bit," Torgrimson said en route to addressing his team afterward.
The closing moments were a sentimental celebration that began on the court.
Down 45-38 with 6:54 left in regulation, the Rebels cranked up Torgrimson's trademark defense, allowing only two points the rest of the way. Included in the stand was a steal by guard Tom Costello with 1:10 remaining and D-G-F (22-9) clinging to a one-point lead, and a block by Adam Holte with 51 seconds to go and the Rebels up three.
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By that time, the D-G-F faithful that filled half of Si Melby Hall filled the rest of it with chants of "Defense, defense" before switching to "Tommy, Tommy."
It was an ode to Costello, the only senior on the team and the only player sent to receive the third-place trophy. Perhaps vision was blurred by tears, but that looked like championship hardware to a school that had never been to the state tournament and wasn't supposed to survive the section quarterfinals.
"(Costello) was our captain this year. We had to follow him," Holte said. "Without him, we might have been lost."
"He's just like a son," Torgrimson said.
That final defensive stand was a pseudo-son's way of saying thanks.
"It's kind of like a tribute to Torgy," said Costello, who scored five of his nine points in the fourth quarter. "I respect playing his defense."
The Beacons (19-11), despite playing without two starters benched in a team decision, were in a position to spoil the situation.
In a game that included seven lead changes and 11 ties, they took their first lead in more than a quarter on a Troy Cook 3-pointer with :43 to go in the third.
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The lead was expanded to 45-38 with four consecutive points to open the fourth before D-G-F answered with a 9-0 run. Concordia pulled even at 47 on a Josh Towle jumper with 2:28 remaining, but the Rebels scored the game's final eight points, beginning three by Costello
"We were starting to feel the pressure coming down on us," said the 6-10 Holte, who finished with 17 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks. "We had to bring up the tempo."
They had to put the 'D' back in D-G-F.
"We dug down," Torgrimson said. "We got down seven and there was a little bit of shock in their eyes."
Afterward, most of those eyes were rimmed by a proud shade of red.
"They came a long way," Torgrimson said. "That's putting it mildly."
Concordia 12 24 41 47
D-G-F 13 27 38 55
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CONCORDIA: Towle 7 3-4 17, Cook 3 3-3 11, Mick 2 1-2 5, Reineck 4 2-2 13, Hazen 0 1-2 1. Totals 16 10-13 47.
D-G-F: Johnk 2 3-4 7, Driscoll 4 1-2 12, Costello 3 3-4 9, Green 5 0-0 10, Holte 6 5-8 17. Totals 20 12-18 55.
3-point goals: Reineck 3, Cook 2, Driscoll 3. Total fouls: C 21, D-G-F 16. Rebounds: C 28 (Cook 8), D-G-F 45 (Holte 16). Assists: C 4 (Towle 3), D-G-F 2 (Johnk, Holte). Steals: C 7 (Towle 4), D-G-F 3 (three with 1). Turnovers: C 12, D-G-F 22.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Terry Vandrovec at (701) 241-5548
