A slow start made all the difference as the Audubon Wheelers fell to the Coon Rapids-Bayard Crusaders 74-48 in the district 15 championship game Tuesday night. Despite neither team grabbed the reigns out of the gate, the Crusaders outscored the Wheelers 22-8 over the final five minutes of the opening quarter. Coon Rapids-Bayard’s offense was extremely efficient; however, it was Audubon’s turnovers, both forced and unforced, that made the biggest difference. Although the Wheelers played much better in the second and third quarters, the deficit was just too much to overcome against a solid team as Audubon’s postseason run came to an end.

Austin Christensen and Carson Wessel were Audubon’s best players Tuesday. Wessel led the team in scoring with 13, while Christensen picked up 8. Head coach Darran Miller was proud of their effort and how they put everything out on the court.

Despite some bright spots, Miller knew that the biggest difference in the game was the first quarter.

The Wheelers are losing seven seniors, and although Miller is very optimistic about the direction of the program, he expressed his gratitude for what this senior class was able to accomplish.

The wheelers finish the season with a record of 15-10, and although they came up two wins short of the state tournament, it was by far their best season in more than five years.