To start the first half, the Jaguars (11-2) came back from an initial 5-2 deficit to jump in front by as much as 26-12 before the Pioneers made a run. Pierz closed the gap to 31-27 before the Jaguars put the throttle down and pulled away going into the break, leading 45-29 at halftime.
They improve to 5-1 in the Central Minnesota Conference. Leading scorers were Matt Goodwin with 21 points, Kevin Kuefler with 18, and Brady Koehler with 15.
Pierz is 1-11 overall and 1-4 in the CMC.
With the win over the Pioneers and a loss by Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted tonight, the Jaguars now sit in first place alone in the CMC. It's a long ways to go to win the title, though - they've got eight more games in the league to get through before there's anything of substance to talk about. They will get stiff challenges from Eden Valley-Watkins (twice), Rockford, and even Kimball.
Central Minnesota Conference boys basketball results:
Maple Lake 64, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 59 (Irish pick up the huge win on their home court)
Rockford 60, Kimball Area 58 OT (Rockets pick up a huge win at Kimball)
Eden Valley-Watkins 44, Holdingford 28 (Huskers are thumped on their home floor)
Up next for the Jaguars: Monday night, home versus sub-section foe Parkers Prairie, who plays in the Little Eight Conference in western Minnesota. The Panthers are 3-7 overall and 2-3 in the Little Eight Conference.
Area boys basketball scores:
BOLD 82, Paynesville 59 (the Bulldogs are reeling)
Minnewaska Area 80, Yellow Medicine East 50
Albany 63, St. Cloud Cathedral 46
Eagle Valley 52, Browerville 51 OT (what a border battle that must've been!)
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 49, Mora 42
Montevideo 82, Benson 73
New London-Spicer 75, Foley 67
Swanville 40, Royalton 37
Upsala 50, Osakis 45
Games involving Sub-Section 6A-South boys basketball teams:
Battle Lake 49, Parkers Prairie 35
Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 62, Brandon-Evansville 48
Henning 79, Rothsay 37
Area girls basketball games:
Albany 73, Foley 39
Sauk Centre 73, Milaca 13
Willmar 74, Rocori 52
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