WAPAKONETA — Reece Busse’s 3-pointer at the buzzer lifted New Bremen to a 40-39 victory over top seed and neighboring rival Minster in a Division IV district semifinal on Tuesday at Wapakoneta High School.
New Bremen built a 13-7 lead by the end of the first quarter. The teams traded baskets to a 20-14 halftime score before the Cardinals used a 13-10 edge in the second to take a 33-24 lead.
The Wildcats rallied in the fourth. After Minster pulled even at 35-35, David Homan made a basket to give New Bremen a two-point lead. Justin Nixon made two free throws to tie it again.
Nixon scored a basket with 34.6 seconds left to give Minster a 39-37 lead. The Cardinals ran down the clock, and Busse hit the game-winning 3 on an assist from Homan.
Busse led the Cardinals (17-8) with 11 points. Homan and Mitchell Hays each scored nine points and had six rebounds.
Nixon led the Wildcats (19-5) with 19 points, 15 rebounds and six blocks. Bryan Falk added 10 points.
New Bremen shot 18 for 51 (35 percent) from the floor and had a 31-28 rebounding edge. Minster shot 13 for 39 (33 percent) from the floor.
The Cardinals will face Midwest Athletic Conference rival St. Henry in a district final on Saturday in Wapakoneta. The Redskins upset No. 2 seed Lima Perry 56-53 in double overtime in Tuesday’s first semifinal.
