Jaguars Basketball -- Solid Play During 68-57 Loss to neighboring Melrose, West Central North Conference Co-Champions.... 5AA-20 Seedings Are In

During a road contest at Melrose (17-6) tonight, the Jaguars basketball team was within striking distance the whole game, down 39-31 at halftime. The West Central North-Conference Co-Champs ended with a 68-57 win over our Jaguars, but not without a battle. The Jaguars had an excellent showing in the hostile Dutchmen gym.

It most definitely will make Paynesville take notice when playoffs begin nearly two weeks from now (March 8). The Bulldogs lost 80-59 in early January when they traveled to Melrose. When they hosted the Dutchmen the second time around in their conference schedule, they lost 54-41. While the Jaguars will be distinct underdogs as the 8th seed going into their game with Paynesville, they will have their chances of advancing to the second round of sub-section play.

Sub-Section 5AA-20 Seedings:
1- Paynesville
2- Eden Valley-Watkins
3- New London-Spicer
4- Maple Lake
5- Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted
6- St.Cloud Cathedral
7- Kimball
8- Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa

The Jaguars face Paynesville at the Paynesville Area High School on March 8 at 7:30 PM for their playoff opener. If they win, they play the winner of the HL-W-W vs. Maple Lake game at Dassel-Cokato on March 10 at 6:00pm.

Before that, however, they have three more games to wrap up the regular season schedule. On Monday (Feb 26) they travel to Hancock to face the Owls, who are also 4-18 this season. On Tuesday the Jaguars host Eden Valley-Watkins (13-6), and on Friday they travel to Pierz (20-4) to finish the CMC and regular season schedule.

Tonight around the area in boys basketball action:
@ Eden Valley-Watkins 85 (8-4 CMC, 13-6), Rockford 83 (11-1 CMC, 18-6) OVERTIME
*The Rockets suffer their first CMC loss of the season to the third-place Eagles.
@ Holdingford 50 (6-6 CMC, 16-8), Maple Lake 28 (6-6 CMC, 13-11) ...*Thursday night game
@ Sibley East 56 (8-14), Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 52 (9-15) *Non-conference
@ Pierz 68 (10-2 CMC, 20-4), Kimball 57 (2-10 CMC, 6-14)
*With the Rockford loss, the Pioneers stay in the hunt for the CMC crown, one game back from the Rockets.

Updated CMC boys basketball standings:
Rockford (11-1)
Pierz (10-2)
Eden Valley-Watkins (8-4)
Holdingford (6-6)
Maple Lake (6-6)
HL-W-W (3-9)
B-B-E (2-10)
Kimball (2-10)

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