Back on track

In spite of shooting poorly from the floor and the free throw line for the third game in a row, the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team got back into the win column after beating last-place Maple Lake 52-43 tonight in a Central Minnesota Conference game. The Irish fell to 0-4 in the CMC and 2-7 overall with their seventh loss in a row. The Jaguars, who led 25-18 at halftime, shot an abysmal 47 percent at the free throw line and just 31 percent on field goals. They have a few days of practice to figure out how to make free throws before hosting Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted (4-9, 3-1 CMC) next Thursday, Jan. 14. The Lakers won at Pierz tonight 58-47.

Kimball prevailed in their second battle for first place in the CMC when freshmen guard Ashley Schindele drained a three-pointer in the final seconds to lift her team to a 53-51 win over the defending champion Eagles. The Cubs are now 11-2 overall and 4-0 in the CMC in sole possession of first place.

At the eight-team Paynesville tournament, the B-B-E Jaguars wrestling team hammered their way through a tough field to take third place behind state-rated Litchfield and Sartell-St. Stephen. Five of the 12 Jaguars who competed took first place: Adam Jaeger (138), Isaiah Gilbert (145), Colby Schramel (152), Ben Thompson (195) and Joe Reller (220). Overall, 10 Jaguars placed fourth or better. Nice work!!! They host a CMC triangular that includes HL-W-W and Pierz on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

Central Minnesota Conference girls' basketball scores on Jan. 8:
HL-W-W 58, Pierz 47
Kimball Area 53, Eden Valley-Watkins 51
Holdingford 53, Paynesville Area 45

Area boys' basketball scores on January 8:
Melrose Area 83, Benson 58            
Sauk Centre 53, Montevideo 48
Rockford Area 58, New London-Spicer 55 (at New London)
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 49, Upsala 35      
Browerville/Eagle Valley 64, Royalton 44
ST. JOHN’S PREP 51, OSAKIS 50