Cretin-Derham Hall 1/24
Kolby Thompson game-winning shot (photo courtesy of And-One Films)
TRIPLE OVERTIME THRILLER: Thompson’s Heroics Lift Lakers to Season‑Defining Win Over CDH, 99–98
January 24, 2026 — St. Paul, Minn.
If you wanted drama, you found it at Cretin‑Derham Hall on Saturday.
If you wanted high‑level basketball, you found that too.
And if you wanted a statement win, something that sends ripples across AAAA basketball…
Well, the Prior Lake Lakers delivered it in neon lights.
In a game that featured stars, grit, chaos, comebacks, and a finish pulled straight from a movie script, the Lakers survived three overtimes and toppled the Raiders 99–98 at The Collision, Breakdown Basketball’s midseason showcase of some of Minnesota’s top programs.
It wasn’t just a win.
It was a declaration.
A planting of the flag.
A night that proved—definitively—the Lakers are for real.
A Marquee Matchup with Statewide Attention
The Collision included basketball powers from across Minnesota, but the marquee boys game belonged to Prior Lake vs. Cretin‑Derham Hall—a battle of two top‑10 AAAA teams, two groups loaded with AAU teammates, high‑end athletes, and postseason aspirations.
Prior Lake entered riding a 10‑game winning streak, having reinvented themselves after a 1–4 start against some of the state’s toughest opponents. But Cretin‑Derham Hall, armed with two all‑state talents and elite team scoring balance, presented the Lakers’ hardest test in weeks.
To win, the Lakers needed:
✔ Defense on CDH’s stars
✔ Dominance in the post
✔ Strong shooting
✔ Low turnovers
✔ Composure under pressure
Check. Check. Check. Check. And check.
FIRST HALF — Raiders Strike, Lakers Counter, Raiders Strike Again
Starters: Thompson, Dubore, Brinkman, Sam‑Brew, Gunderson
The Raiders came out swinging:
A smooth step‑through finger roll from Schlagel
A contested mid‑range from Mitchell
Sharp team movement generating threes and rim finishes
Suddenly it was 15–8 CDH—the Lakers searching for footing.
But Prior Lake didn’t fold.
They counterpunched.
Thompson drilled a three.
Sam‑Brew bulldozed inside for buckets.
Cole Brinkman cut backdoor for a beautiful finish.
Gunderson spun into a layup to trim it to five.
Still, the Raiders kept hitting difficult shots, including a hand‑in‑face midrange and a transition score to stretch the lead to 10 at 26–16. Their ball pressure smothered the Laker offense, blowing up cuts and taking away Thompson’s usual rhythm threes.
But physicality is a language the Lakers speak fluently.
And Colten Gunderson is their translator.
He muscled through the CDH frontline for an and‑1 finish, steadied the Lakers, and set the tone for physical interior play that would define the rest of the night.
As the half closed, Laker toughness took over:
Sam‑Brew finished inside
Gunderson added another bruising bucket
Thompson splashed a deep three
Sam‑Brew beat the buzzer with a tough finish
Halftime: CDH 43, Prior Lake 35
SECOND HALF — The Comeback Without Quit
The second half opened with a familiar sight:
Sam‑Brew slicing through contact for two.
Mitchell immediately answering, blowing by a defender for a smooth finish.
Then came the punch‑counterpunch rhythm that would define regulation:
Gunderson powered inside to cut the lead to 6
Then again to cut it to 4
CDH answered—twice
The Lakers chipped back
The Raiders re‑extended
The Brinkman brothers provided a huge spark:
Drew hit Cole on a left-wing three to trim the deficit to 5.
Then Dubore shredded the defense for back‑to‑back slashing layups.
But again—CDH punched back with threes, rebuilding a 12‑point cushion.
The Lakers were down, but not buried.
And then everything changed.
KOLBY THOMPSON’S TAKEOVER — The Stuff of Legend
What followed was one of the most impressive scoring stretches a Laker player has produced in years.
Thompson took over the game:
A deep three
A hesitation move for a layup
Another drive
Another finish
Another burst to the rim
And finally…
A step-back AND‑1 three that stunned the crowd and cut the lead to six.
The gym erupted.
The bench exploded.
Momentum flipped.
But time was running short.
FINAL MINUTE OF REGULATION — THE BRINKMAN FLURRY
CDH missed.
Prior Lake rebounded.
Cole Brinkman buries a corner three.
Lead down to 3.
CDH missed both free throws.
And with the Raiders asleep on the inbounds—
Cole Brinkman again. WIDE OPEN. CASH.
Tie game. 74–74. 38 seconds left.
Both teams missed final shots.
Overtime.
And the real chaos was just beginning.
OVERTIME 1 — Sam‑Brew Says “I’m Not Done”
Sam‑Brew and‑1 to open OT
Raiders answer
Both teams traded turnovers
Sam‑Brew again, waves off the screen, attacks, AND‑1
Lakers lead 79–77
CDH ties it with an elbow jumper
Final Laker shot… just long
Double overtime.
OVERTIME 2 — Back and Forth and Back and Forth
Dubore and‑1 to open OT2
CDH hits a wing three
Gunderson answers with a power finish
CDH answers again
Neither team backs down
Then CDH finally stopped Sam‑Brew on a post-up—a rarity all night—hit free throws and built a 3‑point lead.
But Thompson kept the Lakers alive:
Tough drive → cut to 1
CDH free throw → lead back to 2
Missed opportunities
CDH hits both free throws after a Laker necessary foul → lead to 4
Thompson left-hand layup → back to 2
Then—
They fouled the right Raider.
He missed a free throw.
Sometimes a chance is all you need. But on the ensuing possession, Thompson missed the three.
So, sometimes a SECOND chance is all you need. Sam-Brew came flying in from the wing, grabbed the rebound, and hit Cole Brinkman for yet another clutch three to tie the game with 6 seconds left in double overtime.
The Raiders would try to go full-court but weren’t able to get a shot up in time.
Triple overtime.
OVERTIME 3 — Thompson Closes the Show
This time, the Lakers missed first.
CDH hit two free throws after a fluke call.
Then a layup.
Lakers down 4. Having to fight back. Again.
A late whistle sent Thompson to the line to make it 2.
CDH scored again.
Thompson answered with a floater.
CDH timeout, up 96–94.
Dubore cut it to 2 with a quick layup after a Raider score.
Then—The Lakers fouled the right Raider. CDH missed both free throws at the line.
No timeouts.
15 seconds.
Ball in Thompson’s hands.
Guarded physically, bump after bump, no whistle.
He dribbled back out.
Double-crossover.
Separation—barely.
Corner help steps toward him.
He jab-steps backward.
Creates just enough daylight.
Rise.
Release.
Arc.
SPLASH.
A dagger heard across the Metro.
Lakers lead 99–98.
CDH hustles to inbound with no timeouts.
Dubore steals the inbounds.
GAME.
FINAL: PRIOR LAKE 99, CRETIN‑DERHAM HALL 98 (3OT)
One of the top games in Minnesota this season, and a defining moment for this Lakers team.
STAT LEADERS
Scoring
Thompson — 32 (most in 2nd half + OT)
Sam‑Brew — 20
Gunderson — 19
Rebounding
Gunderson — 14
Sam‑Brew — 8
Assists
Dubore — 6
Gunderson — 5
Drew Brinkman — 3
Turnovers
Just 11 across regulation and 3 overtimes — enormous in a game decided by a single point.
AROUND THE PROGRAM
9A/B (vs Washburn 9): 66–44 win
B Squad (vs Orono 10th): 50–52 loss
JV (vs Washburn JV): 90–50 win
FINAL WORD
This wasn’t just a win.
It wasn’t even just a statement.
This was heart, toughness, resilience, and belief—all wrapped into the most dramatic game of the season.
With the victory, Prior Lake extends its winning streak to 11 games and announces to the state:
We are here.
We are ready.
And we are never, ever out of a basketball game.