It's ugly in Ashby...ugly for the Arrows

I have been amazed while listening to D-Mac's coverage from Ashby tonight as soon as I left the Dazzlers dance team home invite at the high school...the Jaguars boys' basketball team is systematically taking apart the Ashby Arrows in a non-conference match up of undefeated teams.

With 7 minutes gone in the first half, the Arrows trailed 17-11...but by halftime it was: B-B-E 48, Ashby 16.

The previously-undefeated Arrows actually had a lead during the first minute of the game. A jump shot 30 seconds in made it 2-1 Ashby, but that was quickly erased by a Billy Borgerding jump shot 60 seconds in and then an Alex Wosmek transition bucket 10 seconds after that. Ashby's Blake Ohren drained a bucket with 90 seconds gone for a 5-4 score, but B-B-E responded with a layup by Borgerding, an outside shot by Wosmek and a bucket in the paint by Trey Heinsius for an 11-4 lead. Ashby's J.P. Moe drained a three-pointer, and at that point the game had the resemblance of something worth at least the price of admission. At the 13-minute mark, James Kuefler hit a jumper for a 13-7 lead. By this point, Brian Goodwin had yet to make a field goal but the Jaguars were still in control. Goodwin got his first shot from the floor at the 11:50 mark to make it 15-7. David Rodgers put up B-B-E's first bench points with a close range shot to make it 17-7. Ashby then scored four straight, and with 10:05 on the clock the score was B-B-E 17, Ashby 11.

B-B-E got down to business from that point on and limited the Arrows to five points over the final 10 minutes of the first half. On their end, they decided to score 31 points in a game that was truly over at halftime.

In the second half, the lead stretched to 62-20 and the game is heading to the "mercy rule"...! James Kuefler hit an 8-foot shot on an inbounds play to make it 64-20 with a little under 10 minutes left.

The Jaguars are playing an "NBA-like" schedule right now with four games in six nights. (This is game #4 in that stretch.)

Whew!!

*Final: B-B-E 72, Ashby 27. The Jaguars outscored the Arrows 24-11 in the second half, with the last nine minutes being played under the "mercy rule". Brian Goodwin led the scoring with 19 points, with Billy Borgerding turning in a fine evening with 15 points. Plenty of scoring came off of the bench as well in the blow out win. Ashby shot an unbelievably dismal 7-for-55 from the field in the game, while the Jaguars drained just under 50% (30/62) of their field goal shots.

The B-B-E JV team won 59-36 tonight in Ashby.

*Up next: a trip to Rockford Area less than 24 hours after this Ashby win in what will be their toughest road game of the year to this point of the schedule.

By the way, mad props to the B-B-E Dazzlers dance team in hosting a very exciting and well-attended five-team dance meet at the high school.

Area boys' basketball scores on January 7:
C-G-B 61, Ortonville 59 (heck of a border battle in the Pheasant Conference!)
MACCRAY 61, Benson 60 (Roger Lindahl's 2-8 Braves nearly get the upset in this border battle)

Area girls' basketball scores on January 7:
Sauk Centre 70, Willmar 49
Benson 50, Lac qui Parle Valley 34
YME 50, MACCRAY 37
St. Cloud Cathedral 51, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 46