Now THAT was a shot!

I don't suppose anybody had his/her videocamera working in the last two seconds of the first half of the USD-Augustana men's game Thursday night. That clip would be perfect for submission to ESPN SportsCenter or at least YouTube or one of those sites.

The Argus' Matt Zimmer suggested in his blog that USD's Rane Mergen would make a great baseball player with an arm like that! Honestly once that rebound came down to him just to the left of the Augustana basket, he handled that big basketball as if it were a baseball. He grabbed it with one hand (he must have a huge hand!) and fired southward as if he were a centerfielder trying to nail a runner heading from third to home. It was a strike he threw, and it would have gone another 40 yards or so on the fly had not the south backboard been in the way. That ball slammed into the board just above the basket and caromed in a split-second into the net. The buzz in the Dome continued for several minutes. Unfortunately where I was sitting (in the north bleachers) I couldn't see the replay screen.

Also unfortunately that shot of momentum didn't help the Coyotes. What a disappointing loss, especially since it was Augustana! But perhaps the guys will take care of St. Cloud on Saturday, thus earning a home game against St. Cloud next Wednesday, and then regain that magic that carried them through November and into January with a perfect record when they go to Mankato for the NCC tourney next week.

USD has few seniors, but losing men like Dustin Little (of Castlewood) and Eric Hall (of Huron), who have been stalwarts here at the 'U' for four years, and first-year man Nick Morrell, who has added a wonderful shot of enthusiasm to the team this year, will be costly.

Good luck, 'Yotes, and congrats to the women and Coach Lavin on their NCC title. Let the magic continue all the way to Kearney at the end of March!