Jaguar boys survive their toughest test of the season to win 70-68 in overtime against Kimball

In a very low-scoring overtime period, the Jaguars boys basketball team went five-for-six from the free throw line to edge the lone bucket by Kimball, a three pointer with under 10 seconds left. Final score: B-B-E 70, Kimball Area 68. The game was tied at 65-65 after regulation was complete.

In the final minute of the overtime period with the Jaguars up 67-65, Brady Koehler delivered his third blocked shot of the game. Moments later, Kevin Kuefler was fouled hard at mid court with 16.2 seconds left. He went to the line and sank two double bonus free throws to give his team a four point cushion. The Cubs showed their perseverance when Cameron Hunt drained a long three pointer to close the gap to one. Then with two seconds left, Brady Koehler was fouled and went 1-of-2 on double bonus shots to put the Jaguars up by two. The Jaguars had only five team fouls at that point, so they committed an intentional foul to break up the action with .4 seconds left. The Cubs were unable to get a shot off on their final inbounds play and were sent home with their fourth loss of the year.

The Jaguars, who led 36-35 at halftime, are now 10-0 overall and 4-0 in the Central Minnesota Conference, while Kimball falls to 6-4 and 2-2 in the CMC. On Saturday, once-beaten Brandon/Evansville comes to town to face the Jaguars in a home non-conference game. The Chargers (7-1) are also in Sub-Section 6A-South.

Central Minnesota Conference boys basketball results on Jan. 13:
Pierz 75, Rockford 59
Maple Lake 51, Eden Valley-Watkins 26
Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 68, Holdingford 32

As far as the Pierz fiasco goes, this is confirmed: Out for two weeks (four games) for the Pioneers boys basketball team will be 2 senior captain starters, 1 sophomore starter, 1 senior bench and 1 junior bench. Apparently all five contribute heavily to the varsity team, but it apparently didn't affect them in their big win over visiting Rockford tonight.

A standing-room only crowd was on hand in Clara City tonight, with the visiting Montevideo Thunderhawks defeating the Maccray Wolverines 64-57. A quote from a bystander, "The Hawks never trailed. Not a seat in the house was open, a lot of emotion with a playoff atmosphere."

In New London at "Fort Knox", the visiting Sauk Centre Mainstreeters girls basketball team handed the Wildcats their second loss of the season by a 61-48 final margin. The 'Cats led 32-28 at halftime.

Area boys basketball scores from January 13:
Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 50, Parkers Prairie 42
Minnewaska Area 74, Benson 41
Browerville 61, Osakis 53
Ashby 79, Eagle Valley 63
Upsala 60, Royalton 40
Battle Lake 58, Underwood 37 (Battle Lake is 8-0)
Brandon/Evansville 71, Rothsay 28 (B/E is 7-1, the Jaguars host them on Saturday)

Area girls basketball scores on Jan. 13:
Yellow Medicine East 60, Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 41
Pelican Rapids 67, West Central Area 66
Sauk Centre 61, New London-Spicer 48
Hancock 48, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 46
Benson 70, Minnewaska Area 29
BOLD 51, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 46
Underwood 42, Wheaton/Herman-Norcross 38

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