Rich Decker thought he had seen almost every thing in a high school basketball coaching career that has spanned five decades.
But Mayo senior Katrina Ruedinger showed the old coach something original as the Spartans won another close game Saturday, 48-45 in overtime over visiting Northfield.
Ruedinger made a buzzer-beater at the end of overtime, and Mayo won its second straight win and fifth in six games.
The night before, Ruedinger made a three-pointer from the left corner as time expired in regulation and Mayo escaped from Century with a 46-45 win.
"I have never seen it before in over 40 years of coaching," Decker said. "In less than 24 hours a player hits two buzzer beaters."
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"We are providing some real enjoyment for our fans."
Ruedinger finished with 20 points, all after halftime, and senior center Rachael Doll had another strong game with 21 points, 11 rebounds and six steals.
Mayo's Ann Flesher made an important three-pointer at the end of regulation to force overtime.
"Racheal again played hard and with another double-double carried us, especially in the first half, when no other player scored," Decker noted.
Mayo trailed 21-11 at halftime, but the Spartans clawed back in the second half with good defense.
Mayo (11-5) returns to Big Nine Conference play with its next game Thursday at home against Winona.
Mayo 48, Northfield 45 , OT
NORTHFIELD (45)
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Vanessa Dimick 2, Grace Foley 4, Anna Pfefferle 17, Devon Deanovic 18, Katherine Arneson 4.
MAYO (48)
Michelle Hansen 0, Ann Flesher 5, Sam Miller 0, Shelby Stewart 0, Laura Henderson 0, Katrina Ruedinger 20, Rachael Doll 21, Anna Winter 2, Liv Korngable 0.
Other stats:Ruedinger 6 assists, 4 reboundsL. Korngable 3 assistsDoll 10 rebounds, 6 steals, 4 assistsWinter 4 rebounds
Halftime:NOR 21, MAYO 11.
Free throws:NOR 9-12, MAYO 4-11.
Three-point goals:NOR 0 (None), MAYO 4 (Flesher 1, Ruedinger 3).
