Rogers boys basketball drops game to SLP

by Erik Jacobson

Contributing Writer

The Rogers boys basketball team was looking to sweep the season series with Spring Lake Park (14-9) on Friday, Feb. 16, at The Den in Rogers. Also at stake was sole possession of fourth place in the Northwest Suburban Conference. The Panthers had won four in a row and were coming off an 81-80 upset victory over No. 3 Park Center two nights prior.

Unfortunately, the Royals would end up on the short end of a final 84-73 score. The loss dropped the Royals’ record to 15-8.

The first half was evenly played, and the biggest lead either team would enjoy was 6 points, held by the Panthers at 31-25. Rogers trailed at the half 36-38.

The Panthers started to pull away in the second half. An 18-4 run midway through the half gave the Panthers a 69-48 lead, and the Royals didn’t have an answer for the Panthers’ 6-foot-7 Brock Remme. Remme had 27 of his game-high 40 points in the second half. Spring Lake Park held a 74-52 lead with 4:15 remaining, and this game appeared all but over.

But the Royals would make a dramatic comeback bid, and when Blake Dalluge hit three free throws with 24.5 seconds left, the Royals had cut the lead to five, 78-73, on a 21-4 run in under four minutes. The Panthers made free throws in the closing moments to survive with a 84-73 victory.

Dalluge led the Royals with a team-high 24 points, Treyvon Mix added 18 off the bench and Jaxson Fuller netted 12.

What’s next

The Royals will finish out their regular season with an away game at Anoka (11-11) on Thursday, Feb. 29, at 7 p.m. at Anoka High School.