Step I: moving on with a win

Katelyn Heinze made this free throw attempt in the final minute of the game for her team's 57th point.

Swanville's 38 turnovers were a factor in a playoff-opening 57-43 Sub-Section 5A-South quarterfinal win for the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team. As any fan would attest to, it was an incredibly physical game for the first round. After trailing by one point at halftime, the Jaguars brought the heat and started the second half with a 13-0 run. After that the outcome was not in doubt.

Next is a game against East Central in the semifinals on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Pierz. The Eagles, seeded fifth, beat fourth-seeded and defending sub-section champion Isle 60-54.

Other schools wish they had fans as loyal and awesome as ours!!!

Other winners tonight were Royalton and Browerville in Section 5A. Third-seeded Upsala was upset by sixth-seeded Royalton by a 55-54 score.

Browerville, the top seed in Sub-Section 5A-North, beat eighth-seeded Nevis 84-59.

Section 5A girls' basketball scores on March 5:
Verndale 72, Hill City 51
Sebeka 52, Menahga 38
Kimball Area 75, Ogilvie 60
Pine River-Backus 58, Parkers Prairie 39

The Kimball Area Cubs take a 15-12 record into their semifinal game against Royalton that will follow our game in Pierz. The Royals are 10-14 after their big upset win over Upsala.

The East Central Eagles (12-13 overall, 7-9 Great River Conference) split their two Great River Conference games with Ogilvie, winning 38-31 in the first meeting at Ogilvie and losing 59-55 at home on Feb. 13.

Section 6A girls' basketball scores on March 5:
West Central Area 57, Underwood 43
Brandon/Evansville 57, Battle Lake 47
Ada-Borup 76, Rothsay 19
Wheaton/Herman-Norcross 59, Hancock 34

Other area girls' basketball playoff scores on March 5:
Melrose Area 55, Pierz 46
New London-Spicer 54, Benson 30
Rockford Area 46, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 40