Jaguar boys basketball wins an "it was closer than the final score" type of game over Pierz 85-65 - Girls' hoops win at Kimball

Kevin Kuefler muscles in two points against Pierz about six minutes into the second half of the game tonight.

Withstanding a tough challenge from a physical and athletic Pierz squad tonight, the Jaguars boys basketball team won 85-65 for their 12th win in Central Minnesota Conference play.

After trailing by around seven points at times in the first half, the Jaguars took charge and forged a 37-31 lead at halftime.

In the second half, the Pioneers got as close as a 40-38 deficit, but the Jaguars put it in overdrive and shot ahead by double digits.

With 4:30 remaining, the Pioneers canned a three to make it 67-60, but the Jaguars put the hammer down and ended up winning by the wide final score.

With HL-W-W losing to Maple Lake on Thursday night, the Jaguars have emerged as the sole champions of the Central Minnesota Conference this year. It's the third year in a row they have earned such status.

First half action with a tight ball game underway between B-B-E and Pierz; with five minutes left, Brady Koehler's rebound shot tied the game at 23-23.

Earning their seventh win in a row, the Jaguars girls basketball team defeated host Kimball Area 45-41 tonight to cap the regular season with a final record of 13-12 overall. Their final mark in the Central Minnesota Conference is 8-6, an outstanding finish after starting 1-4 in the league. The Jaguars open the Sub-Section 6A-South playoffs at home on Monday night, Feb. 28, against Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley.

Central Minnesota Conference girls basketball results in the final CMC game of the year, Feb. 25:
Pierz 46, Rockford 43
Eden Valley-Watkins 43, Maple Lake 26
Holdingford 48, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 45

**Both Pierz and EV-W are co-champions of the Central Minnesota Conference title, both finishing the loop with a record of 10-4. HL-W-W finishes 9-5. B-B-E clinched fourth place alone.

Area boys basketball scores on Feb. 25:
Minnewaska Area 87, Benson 81 (TWO OT!)
Breckenridge 57, Wheaton/Herman-Norcross 47
Battle Lake 50, Brandon/Evansville 48 (Battlers are the sole Little Eight Conference champions, 10-2 league record)
Montevideo 68, BOLD 33
LQPV 58, Paynesville Area 55 (Bulldogs finish the regular season winless)
Ashby 74, Parkers Prairie 54
St.Cloud Cathedral 71, Melrose Area 69 (2 OT!)
New London-Spicer 76, Sauk Centre 73 (tough loss for the Streeters, who are going through a storybook turnaround season)
Henning 55, Hancock 46
Sebeka 75, Bertha-Hewitt 48

Battle Lake is 20-2 overall and will probably grab the #2 seed in Sub-Section 6A-South, followed by Hillcrest Lutheran Academy (13-7) and then Ashby at #4 (15-8).

Area girls basketball scores on Feb. 25:
Parkers Prairie 66, Eagle Valley 60
Underwood 48, Verndale 21

Check back on Saturday night for results from the Section 5A individual wrestling tournament.

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