RCTC Falls to Anoka-Ramsey in Season-Ending Heartbreaker, 83–77

The Rochester Community and Technical College Yellowjackets saw their season come to an end on Saturday, in a tough 83–77 loss to Anoka-Ramsey Community College. The game was played at home, and for much of the afternoon, it looked like RCTC might pull off the win. But a difficult second half and strong free‑throw shooting by Anoka-Ramsey proved to be the difference.

RCTC started the game with great energy. The Yellowjackets moved the ball well and got scoring from several different players. Sam Hemery came off the bench and immediately made an impact, hitting shots both inside and from the three‑point line. He scored 19 points on an impressive 8‑for‑10 shooting day. Armoni Dishinger-Harris added another spark, knocking down three threes and finishing with 15 points.

The starting lineup also contributed. Carson Brown battled inside and scored 13 points while also handing out five assists. Tycen Vig grabbed six rebounds and scored six points, and Josh Fiecke added six more. By halftime, RCTC led 41–36 and looked confident on both ends of the floor.

But the second half told a different story.

Anoka-Ramsey came out aggressive, attacking the basket and drawing fouls. That became the biggest factor in the game. Anoka attempted 37 free throws, making 31 of them. Their ability to score at the line kept them close even when they weren't hitting shots from the field. Preston Thielke led their team with 18 points, going 10‑for‑12 from the free‑throw line. Dwayne Bryant and MJ Omot added 15 and 13 points, including four made threes between them.

As Anoka-Ramsey picked up the pace, RCTC struggled to match the momentum. The Yellowjackets shot the ball well overall—47.5% from the field—but foul trouble and turnovers became costly. RCTC committed 23 fouls and gave up 14 turnovers, which allowed Anoka-Ramsey to get extra possessions and easy points.

Even with these challenges, RCTC kept fighting. Hemery continued scoring, John Johnson added nine points off the bench, and the team grabbed 35 rebounds compared to Anoka-Ramsey's 27. But each time RCTC tried to make a run, Anoka answered at the free‑throw line or hit a timely three.

In the final minutes, Anoka-Ramsey pulled ahead and RCTC couldn't quite close the gap. The Yellowjackets were outscored 47–36 in the second half, turning a five‑point halftime lead into a narrow six‑point defeat.