In a showdown between two contenders in the Central Minnesota Conference this season, the Jaguars girls basketball team jumped out to early leads over visiting Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted tonight. Scores in favor of the Jaguars at 6-2, 11-7, and 17-12 soon evaporated, though, as the Lakers snuck ahead 20-19 with 9:50 left in the first half.
With 5:34 left in the first half, the Jaguars led 26-24. They led 31-28 with a little over two minutes left before the Lakers made a big run to go in front 36-32. (See video clip below)
At halftime: HL-W-W 36, B-B-E 34.
The Jaguars fell behind by as many as 11 points in the second half, then went on a terrific 15-3 run to take a 53-52 lead with about 8:00 left in the game.
With 4:10 to play, the Lakers held a 61-55 lead. The Jaguars cut it down to two points with 34 seconds remaining.
Final score: HL-W-W 65, B-B-E 61. The Lakers went 13-of-20 from the free throw line; the Jaguars were 18-of-23. The Lakers made eight three point shots, while the Jaguars made three. That was the key difference in the game.
Both teams are now .500 overall and 1-1 in the CMC, with B-B-E at 2-2 and HL-W-W at 3-3.
The last time the Jaguars have defeated the Lakers in girls basketball was February 11, 2005. Final score, 52-46 in a game played at Howard Lake. The Jaguars were on their way to a comeback after losing eight in a row to fall to 3-8 on the season. The win over the Lakers brought them to 8-13 overall. They went on to finish as Sub-Section 5A-South champions that season, losing to Underwood in the Section 5A championship 57-51.
Check back for more video/photos over the weekend. Hopefully many of you will be at A-C-GC High School in Grove City on Saturday night, when the Jaguars boys basketball team is in action against West Central Area. Tip-off is 8pm.
The final 28 seconds of the first half plays out, with Shyan Kuefler launching a successful outside shot from the wing as time expired. The bucket made it a 36-34 deficit at the half for the Jaguars.
More first half action...
Central Minnesota Conference girls basketball results on Dec. 17:
Pierz 62, Eden Valley-Watkins 48
Rockford 67, Maple Lake 33
Kimball Area 54, Holdingford 51
Area girls basketball results on Dec. 17:
Sauk Centre 65, Osakis 23 (it was 41-13 at halftime)
Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 52, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 41
ACGC 53, Minnewaska Area 26
Central Minnesota Christian 57, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 54
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 53, Minnewaska 26
Benson 67, Breckenridge 54
Dawson-Boyd 60, Renville County West 44
MACCRAY 76, Lakeview 34
Area boys basketball results on Dec. 17:
Minnewaska Area 80, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 49
Maple Lake 46, Eden Valley-Watkins 44 (a tournament, non-conference game)
Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 66, Breckenridge 60 (OT)
Melrose Area 75, Foley 43
Montevideo 62, Paynesville Area 24
New London-Spicer 73, Litchfield 68 (OT)
Sauk Centre 67, Osakis 45
St.John's Prep 60, Holdingford 40
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