Special Decorah boys’ basketball season ends with excruciating overtime loss to Davenport Assumption in state tournament

DES MOINES — Decorah basketball is a thing now.

So before looking at how excruciating the end of the 2023-24 season was, think about that for a quick second.

“This senior group, what we’ve done, I think we’ve proven to a lot of the kids down in our program that it’s possible,” Decorah’s Trey McCain said, after his top-ranked Vikings lost, 61-53, in overtime Thursday afternoon to Davenport Assumption in a state tournament semifinal.

“It” being more success, more trips to Wells Fargo Arena. The possibility of perhaps winning it all someday.

These guys have shown the way.

“They’re all my brothers,” said Decorah’s Ben Bockman.

Decorah came here two years ago for the first time in 45 years. It came back here this week ranked No. 1, the most successful team in school history.

It beat Williamsburg in Tuesday’s quarterfinals for the program’s first-ever state tournament win. McCain, Bockman and the three other seniors on this team will be enormously difficult to replace.

But there’s talent in the younger classes, and, obviously, a lot of momentum.

“I think if our program keeps building on this, there are good things ahead,” McCain said.

Now to this always-tight game. A pair of 3-pointers from McCain and another from Bockman were lighting bolts that put Decorah ahead with two minutes left, 46-42.

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The Vikings then got a defensive stop and the ball, but a pair of turnovers gave Assumption (18-8) a chance, and a free throw and Damyen Jackson trey later, the game was suddenly tied. Decorah got the last shot in regulation, but Zach Driscoll’s drive down the left side of the lane missed, perhaps slightly deflected by Assumption.

Nothing went well in OT for Decorah (23-3).

“They were exhausted, we were exhausted,” said Jackson, who had a game-high 23 points. “But we had to play with the same confidence we had all game those last two minutes (of overtime).”

“Just one of those situations where they went on the last run,” said Decorah Coach Jonathan Carlson. “Give them credit.”

Assumption’s length and athleticism led to Decorah struggling offensively throughout. The Vikings ended up shooting just 32.2 percent from the field, with leading scorer Bockman (a 20-point per game guy) held to 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting.

McCain made four 3s and scored 18 points to help make up for that. But Decorah didn’t have much answer for guard Jackson or forward Kayvion Hodges, part of an all-underclassmen lineup, who posted a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds.

“You get it to OT, you wish you could pull it out,” McCain said. “You’re with your guys here, you work all season to get here. It’s just a tough way to lose.”

“Obviously, these guys, I feel terrible for them,” Carlson said. “It’s just one of those deals where that’s what it is. They left their hearts on the floor, and that’s all we can ask.”

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Photos: Decorah vs. Davenport Assumption in Class 3A boys’ state basketball semifinals

Davenport Assumption 61, Decorah 53 (OT)

AT WELLS FARGO ARENA

DAVENPORT ASSUMPTION (61): Kayvion Hodges 9-14 2-5 20, Navon Shabazz 2-8 2-2 7, Joey Funderburk 1-5 1-2 4, Braylon Thomsen 0-3 1-2 1, Damyen Jackson 8-14 3-4 23, Isiah Rose 1-3 4-6 6, Elijah King 0-0 0-0 0, Joe Tallmen 0-0 0-0 0, Connor Ewen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-47 13-21 61.

DECORAH (53): Kaiden Quandahl 1-3 0-0 2, Ben Bockman 3-14 3-5 10, Cael LaFrentz 3-7 2-2 8, Trey McCain 6-12 2-2 18, Matthew Bockman 2-12 0-0 5, Zach Driscoll 3-9 0-0 8, Noah Milburn 1-2 0-0 2, Andrew Rhodes 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-59 7-9 53.

Halftime - Assumption 23, Decorah 19. End of Regulation - 46-46. 3-point goals - Assumption 6-16 (Jackson 4-6, Shabazz 1-4, Thomsen 0-3, Funderburk 1-2, Rose 0-1), Decorah 8-25 (McCain 4-7, M. Bockman 1-6, B. Bockman 1-7, Driscoll 2-5). Rebounds - Assumption 36 (Hodges 13), Decorah 33 (Quandahl 8). Total fouls - Assumption 16, Decorah 17. Fouled out - Funderburk. Assists - Assumption 6 (Thomsen 3), Decorah 10 (M. Bockman 4). Turnovers - Assumption 14, Decorah 10.

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