SECOND IN STATE - Waseca boys' basketball team captains hoist the Minnesota Class AA second-place trophy. They are, from left, Deron Russell, Damarius Russell and Carson Ohnstad. Pioneer photo by Eli Lutgens
Nothing gold can stay
Perfect season ends with loss in state championship
Perfect season ends with loss in state championship
Wed, 03/26/2025 - 7:57pm
Stay golden, Bluejays.
Saturday was destined to be a night Waseca faithful will remember for the rest of their lives, regardless of the outcome. But, to quote Robert Frost, “Nothing gold can stay.”
This famous line of poetry describes the fleeting beauty of nature and serves as a reminder that all good things, eventually, come to an end.
An incredible, impeccable run by the Waseca Bluejays boys' basketball team came to its end at the hands of the undefeated Albany Huskies, 70-63, Saturday night at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.
A game to remember, the Jays were in the lead numerous times, but, ‘the basketball gods’ according to Waseca head coach Seth Anderson, decided the ball wouldn’t roll their way. A run which began with an undefeated regular season saw the Jays rattle off four straight section playoff wins against Medford, Central Public, JWP, and Belle Plaine, before starting their revenge tour through the first two rounds of the state tournament.
Beginning with Pequot Lakes on Tuesday night at Target Center, the Jays avenged last season's loss in the state tournament by staving off what would have been the upset of the tournament had Waseca lost. A late three-pointer from Senior Carson Ohnstad sealed the Bluejays' 49-45 win.
Friday night, the Jays took down defending state champions Breck, 68-60, avenging a loss to the Mustangs in the opening round of the state tournament a year ago. Junior Deron Russell led the Jays in scoring, with 38–the second-most he’s ever scored in a game.
In the championship bout, the Jays had numerous opportunities to tie the game or take the lead in the final minutes, but could not get the final bucket to fall. Waseca fans felt, at numerous points in the game, that the Jays were going to pull it out. Big baskets throughout the game from both Deron and senior Demarius Russell kept the Jays in it. The brothers combined for 54 points.
Graduating this year are seniors Damarius Russell, Ohnstad, Isaac Feldkamp, Caden Danner, Cameron Karsten, Isaiah Johnson, Max Howard and Brandon Jascha.
The Bluejays finish the 2024-’25 campaign as the state runners-up with a 32-1 record.