Jaguars boys basketball emerges from heart-stopping overtime battle at Maple Lake with a 63-62 win

Kevin Kuefler hit the game winner for the Jaguars with 15 seconds left in overtime tonight at Maple Lake. He surpassed the 1,000 points plateau in his varsity career during the game with a dominating 28-point output.

Trailing 62-61 in the final 27 seconds of overtime, the Jaguars boys basketball team was on the ropes with their final possession of the game underway. Kevin Kuefler grabbed a pass along the free throw line, then sliced through a double team and scored the game winner with 15 seconds on the clock.

The Irish played through for the win, passing around for a final shot. Their jumper at the buzzer was no good, as the Jaguars escaped Maple Lake with an improbable 63-62 win. They trailed 34-24 at halftime.

Kuefler had a monster game tonight, piling up 28 points and 12 rebounds. Read all about the Jaguars' incredible team effort tonight in next week's local newspapers. Smooth Magic 107 sports broadcaster Dave McClurg, who had the call for tonight's game on 107.1 FM, commented after the game was over that it was the most exciting winter game he's covered. (He also interviewed Kuefler and Brian Goodwin in the post-game report.)

Kevin Kuefler became the sixth player in B-B-E boys basketball history to surpass 1,000 points in his career during the Maple Lake win. He joins an elite club that includes Eric Dingmann (Class of 1996), Travis Schoumaker (2000), Troy Rosengren (2003), Pete Marthaler (2005), and Michael Rodgers (2009).

Maple Lake falls to 11-7 overall and 4-4 in the CMC.

The Jaguars are now 18-0 overall and 9-0 in the CMC. They are the last undefeated team in Section 6A, as Battle Lake lost tonight in Ashby 66-57 in a Little Eight Conference border battle. The Arrows led 31-17 at halftime and built a lead as high as 21 points in the second half before the Battlers made a run near the end to close the gap to nine points. Ashby is 10-5 overall and have won five in a row. Battle Lake is now tied for first place in the Little Eight Conference with defending champion Hillcrest Lutheran Academy at 6-1. Battle Lake and HLA will do battle next Tuesday in a game that most likely will determine the Little Eight Conference champion.

Read all about the Arrow's win over Battle Lake by clicking here: http://www.craigolsonsports.com/newsarticle.php?yid=1011&tid=136&sid=1230025&nid=43727

Final score between B-B-E and Sauk Centre in girls basketball action tonight: Streeters 77, Jaguars 43.

Special programming note: **Jaguars wrestling coach Rich Vos will be on Smooth Magic 107 FM. His interview begins at about 7:30am.

Central Minnesota Conference boys basketball results on Feb. 4:
Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 70, Pierz 39 (Lakers lead by 12 at halftime and then pull away in the second half)
Holdingford 58, Rockford 58
Kimball 51, Eden Valley-Watkins 38

Area boys basketball results on Feb. 4:
Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 39, Henning 33
Eagle Valley 56, Osakis 50
Melrose Area 75, Foley 66
Ada-Borup 58, Ulen-Hitterdal 52 (showdown between top Sub-Section 6A-North teams)
Brandon/Evansville 69, Parkers Prairie 37
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 62, Lakeview 49 (1st win of the year for K-M-S, I honestly thought they'd go winless this year)
Maccray 77, Dawson-Boyd 57
Wheaton/Herman-Norcross 58, Ortonville 43
Ashby 61, Battle Lake 53 (1st loss of the year for the Battlers after they trailed 31-17 at halftime, Ashby is 10-5)
Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 61, Hancock 53

Area girls basketball results on February 4:
New London-Spicer 74, LP-GE 43
Foley 58, Melrose Area 57
West Central Area 55, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 49
Alexandria 70, Willmar 49

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