Willmar tournament

A nine-minute long scoring drought spelled doom for the B-B-E Jaguars boys' basketball team in the second day of action at Willmar. The MACCRAY Wolverines won 43-38 after holding a 27-17 halftime lead. The Jaguars cut it down to 39 to 36 with 45 seconds left.

Needless to say, it was a very difficult loss to swallow. The Jaguars (3-6) had a magnificent start, jumping on the Wolverines with early leads of 5-0 and 13-5. Parker Schwinghammer nailed two threes in the opening minutes. His second three put the Jaguars up 13-5 with 13 minutes left in the first half.

After Evan Wiener scored in the paint with 11 minutes left, B-B-E held a 15-7 lead. They did not score again until the clock said 2:02. Wiener hit another shot in the paint at that point, but MACCRAY (2-8 overall) was ahead 24-17. The Jaguars were outscored 17-0 in that nine-minute stretch.

Below, video from the first half of the game:

Here's video from the final 3:14 of the game:

Next: B-B-E travels to Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted in conference action on Friday, January 5. The Lakers are 3-5 overall and just went 1-1 in a vacation tournament.

Here's a web link to the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper's Smugmug photo gallery of the sports albums (through December 21): https://bonanzavalley.smugmug.com/BBE-Jaguar-winter-sports-17-18.

In the preceding game, winless Central Minnesota Christian-Prinsburg defeated Sauk Centre 70-67 to improve to 1-7 on the season. The Mainstreeters fell to 6-3 overall. The Bluejays were ranked No. 159 in the latest Class 1A QRF rankings; the Mainstreeters were No. 37 in Class 2A.

Today is a milestone day!! This sports blog, the longest-running high school blog in the state of Minnesota, surpassed 500,000 page views. It was created in October 2006.

More to come. Time for some open gym at the high school!!

Area boys' basketball scores on December 30:
Pipestone Area 67, Canby 39
Rocori 75, Princeton 67
Jackson County Central 94, Montevideo 69
Renville County West 47, Fond du Lac Ojibwe 45
Big Lake 66, St. Cloud Apollo 58
Langford Area (SD) 71, Dawson-Boyd 53, Central MN Christian 70, Sauk Centre 67
BOLD 84, Lac qui Parle Valley 62
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 53, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 36 (Fighting Saints finish 2-0 at the Windom tournament to take home the championship; they edged out the host Windom Eagles 61-58 in overtime in the Friday game, a huge upset win for them against a team that entered the tournament 7-2 overall and ranked No. 24 in Class 2A, K-M-S ranked No. 98 in Class 1A)
Willmar 67, New London-Spicer 56

Champions at Rogers

The B-B-E Jaguars wrestling team totaled 200.5 points to run away with the title at the 18-team Rogers Holiday Invitational today. In second place was Becker with 139.5 points. Canon Swanson, Adam Jaeger and Isaiah Gilbert were individual champions for B-B-E. Tyler Bents, a junior, took second place while earning his 100th career win today.

At Goodhue, the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team defeated Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity 68-38 to improve to 6-3 on the year.

At Willmar, the B-B-E Jaguars boys' basketball team fell to 3-5 overall with a 60-50 loss to New London-Spicer. At halftime, the score was knotted up at 26-26.

Busy day! Busy Friday!

Whew!!! Four B-B-E teams are in action today!

The B-B-E Jaguars wrestling team and the B-B-E Robotics team got into action this morning - wrestlers at the 19-team Rogers Christmas invitational, and robotics at Willmar high school for a day of programming lessons. The robotics students are not competing today, but it's an important session for them as they gear up for their 2018 season.

Later today the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team faces Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity in the final day of the Goodhue tournament. Tip-off is at 3 p.m.

Also tonight, the B-B-E Jaguars boys' basketball team faces New London-Spicer in the opening day of the Willmar Bremer Bank Holiday Classic, which features eight teams. Tip-off for that game is at 5:30 p.m. at the "Big Red Gym" at the Willmar high school.

For both basketball teams, their respective JV squads will also be in action today.

*Early afternoon update: with the first round of wrestling tallied, the B-B-E Jaguars wrestling team sits in first place out of 18 teams!!! Of course, it's way too early to know how it will turn out. But that is one heck of a great start!

*Mid-afternoon update: the Jaguars have six wrestlers all going for first place: Walker Bents, Tyler Bents, Canon Swanson, Tyler Jensen, Isaiah Gilbert and Adam Jaeger. As a team, the Jaguars still remain in first place with 182 team points and the finals still to come.

At Goodhue, the girls' basketball team has a 26-12 lead with nine minutes to go in the first half against LP/HT. *Late in the second half, the Jaguars had a 66-35 lead with the reserves playing.

Opener at Goodhue

Here's the final score at the first round of the Goodhue tournament, where the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team will play two games over the Christmas break...Goodhue 56, B-B-E 46. Goodhue (9-1) is the defending Class 1A state champions.

B-B-E faces Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity (2-4) tomorrow in the third-place game of the tournament. LP/HT lost to Sleepy Eye by a 53-44 score in today's other semifinal game in Goodhue. The Indians improved to 8-2 with the win.

Below, video from the final minute of the Eden Valley-Watkins game on December 12:



Area girls' basketball scores on December 28:
West Central Area 69, Battle Lake 42
Upsala 52, Edgerton 51
Perham 45, Holdingford 39
Sauk Centre 80, Roseau 70
Lac qui Parle Valley 53, Springfield 37

Menahga 77, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 45
Swanville 67, MACCRAY 47
New London-Spicer 57, Albany 39
Concordia Academy 66, Maple Lake 50
St. Cloud Cathedral 61, Melrose Area 40
Willmar 56, Minnehaha Academy 47

Rockford Area 82, Kimball Area 49

(HD Video) Christmas caroling

Below, a video from Christmas caroling by members of Big Grove/Crow River/Grace Lutheran churches at the Green Manor apartments in Belgrade this past Wednesday night:


You can watch another video of caroling that same night at the Belgrade Nursing Home. Click on this link at the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper website: http://www.bonanzavalleyvoice.com/story/2017/12/14/news/video-christmas-caroling-at-belgrade-nursing-home/555.html.

MERRY Christmas to you and your family!

Still unbeaten

The B-B-E Jaguars wrestling team made it seven in a row with two more dual wins tonight. In a home triangular, the Jaguars hammered Ortonville 62-15 before taking Holdingford apart in a 63-18 win.

At home in a Central Minnesota Conference game, the B-B-E Jaguars boys' basketball team went ice cold from the field (25 percent) in a 45-29 loss to state-ranked Eden Valley-Watkins.

More to follow.

Winning

Lots of winning took place tonight!

The wrestling team went 3-0 at Granite Falls, and the basketball teams both defeated Upsala.

Going dark

This sports blog will "go dark" for the next two days as I prepare a truly incredible 20-page Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper for publishing. I may get scores posted on Tuesday night for the basketball and wrestling teams...but no promises!

Remember: the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team hosts Upsala in a home contest on Tuesday night.

Also! The 7th-12th grade band and choir Christmas concert is tomorrow (Monday) night at 7 p.m. at the high school gymnasium.

See you on the other side of Tuesday. Wish me luck..

Dance at Melrose, wrestling at Big Bear

The B-B-E/Paynesville dance team earned two trophies at the Melrose invitational today. The JV Jazz squad took first place, while the varsity jazz squad took second.

Updates to follow.

The B-B-E Jaguars wrestling team placed 10th at the 40-team Big Bear tournament. Canon Swanson earned first place at 120 pounds. Other place winners were Tyler Bents taking fourth, Isaiah Gilbert taking fifth and Trevor Kern taking seventh.

Taken from Twitter, worth re-posting!
Habits of happy people:1 don't show off
2 talk less
3 learn daily
4 help less fortunate
5 laugh more
6 ignore nonsense
7 no entitlement
8 eat healthy
9 care for others
10 improving daily

Basketball on the road

At Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team evened their Central Minnesota Conference record at 1-1 with a 70-52 win tonight. For the game, the Jaguars shot 51 percent from the field and were led by Nicole Wesbur's 21 points.

At Osakis, the B-B-E Jaguars boys' basketball team led 24-20 at halftime and has a 34-23 lead with 14:30 left in the game. Final score: B-B-E 53, Osakis 41. The Jaguars were powered by Evan Wiener's 23 points and another 19 points from Parker Schwinghammer. Just as did the girls' squad tonight, the boys' varsity team shot 51 percent on field goals.

At Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City tonight, the B-B-E/Paynesville Pirouettes JV jazz team took home the first-place trophy. Bravo! The dance team competes at Melrose on Saturday. The Bonanza Valley Voice will be in attendance.

At Cass Lake-Bena high school, the B-B-E Jaguars wrestling team is sitting in 12th place out of 40 teams after the first day of action at the Big Bear tournament. They have 69.5 team points. The front-runner, Hutchinson, has 97 team points. I'm hoping to get additional updates from the Big Bear wrestling tournament on Saturday.

Below, video of action during the second half of Tuesday's conference opener against No. 11-ranked Eden Valley-Watkins:


Central Minnesota Conference girls' basketball scores on December 15:
Eden Valley-Watkins 57, Maple Lake 47
Kimball Area 53, Paynesville Area 29

Area boys' basketball scores on Dec. 15:
Melrose Area 59, New London-Spicer 54
Annandale 61, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 22
Eden Valley-Watkins 65, Rush City 29
Rocori 52, Albany 46
Kimball Area 82, Mora 45
Dawson-Boyd 74, Renville County West 46
Lac qui Parle Valley 59, Central MN Christian 55
Minnewaska Area 69, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 48
Holy Family Catholic 77, Maple Lake 59
Breckenridge 56, MACCRAY 21
Lakeview 75, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 45

Area girls' basketball scores on December 15:
Frazee 55, Verndale 45
Brandon/Evansville 60, Henning 39
Minneota 77, Russel-Tyler-Ruthton 44
MACCRAY 60, Renville County West 46
Melrose Area 49, Montevideo 47
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 55, Yellow Medicine East 43
BOLD 88, A-C-GC 48
Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 49, Minnewaska Area 46
Royalton 68, Osakis 43
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 74, Swanville 73 OT
West Central Area 71, Hancock 41

Conference opener

The B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team had a terrific start to their game tonight against No. 11-ranked (Class 2A) Eden Valley-Watkins. With 11 minutes gone, their defense held the Eagles to just 12 points while they built a 20-12 lead.

The tide turned before halftime, and at the break the Eagles held a 30-29 lead.

Final score: EV-W 55, B-B-E 49. Read more on the game in this week's Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper.

Central Minnesota Conference girls' basketball scores on Dec. 12:
Pierz 64, Paynesville Area 37
Holdingford 61, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 52

Area girls' basketball scores on December 12:
No. 6-ranked Watertown-Mayer 57, No. 7-ranked New London-Spicer 55
No. 9-ranked Willmar 78, St. Cloud Apollo 73
BOLD 56, Minnewaska Area 51
West Central Area 61, Ashby 29
Sebeka 63, Nevis 28
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 46, Central MN Christian 45
Lac qui Parle Valley 52, Dawson-Boyd 41
Minneota 66, Lakeview 50
Litchfield 67, Osakis 51
No. 1-ranked Sauk Centre 77, Melrose Area 32
Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 66, Montevideo 44
Swanville 56, Upsala 49
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 70, Browerville 39
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 53, Benson 45

Owls take flight over Jaguars

After sitting in a 25-25 tie at halftime, the B-B-E Jaguars boys' basketball team fell behind in the later part of the second half by as many as 14 points. Early in the second half, B-B-E built a 36-30 lead before the Owls erased it with a 12-1 run.

Final score: Hancock 74, B-B-E 63. The Owls, contenders for the Sub-Section 6A-South crown this year, improve to 3-0.

Next for the Jaguars (1-3) is a road game at Osakis (1-1) on Friday.

Photo albums

An estimated 99 percent of the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper's fall sports photos are uploaded to the SmugMug online gallery. Here's the link to the full collection of albums: https://bonanzavalley.smugmug.com/BBE-Jaguar-Fall-Sports-17.

Here's the link to the 2017-18 winter sports photo galleries: https://bonanzavalley.smugmug.com/BBE-Jaguar-winter-sports-17-18.

Grant County tournament

The B-B-E Jaguars wrestling team took third place today at the Grant County tournament. Host West Central Area/Ashby took second place, finishing just one point behind champion Ottertail Central. One point!

Earning titles were Isaiah Gilbert (152) and Tyler Bents (138). The Jaguars placed as follows through the weight classes:

106: Walker Bents, 5th

113: Blaine Fischer, 2nd
120: Canon Swanson, 2nd
126: Tyler Jensen, 3rd
132: Dylan Kampsen, 2nd
138: Tyler Bents, 1st
152: Isaiah Gilbert, 1st
170: Mark Jenniges, 4th
195: Thaniel Cebulla, 5th
220: Seth Roering, 5th
285: Joe Thompson, 5th

Other teams at the 10-team tournament included Alexandria, Morris Area/Hancock/Chokio-Alberta, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville, Fergus Falls, Dawson-Boyd/Lac qui Parle Valley/Montevideo United, Border West and Pelican Rapids.

The Jaguars have a few days off from competition until they head to the Northland for the Big Bear tournament at Cass Lake-Bena high school on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 15-16.

Here's the link to the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper's online photo gallery that features the December 1 wrestling invitational at B-B-E: https://bonanzavalley.smugmug.com/BBE-Jaguar-winter-sports-17-18/BBE-wrestling-invite-12-01.

##ConquerEveryDay

Wrestlers, girls' hoops light up the night

Junior Tyler Bents, who went 2-0 tonight in the Kimball triangular, is shown in action at the home invitational one week ago.

The B-B-E Jaguars wrestling team hammered two Central Minnesota Conference opponents tonight at the Kimball triangular. In the first dual, facing the host Bulldogs, the Jaguars won 52-24. In the second dual, facing the Cubs, the Jaguars won 64-12.

A couple notes: against Kimball, Seth Roering got in a slight jam, almost got turned, but made a quick move and stuck his guy at 220 pounds. It was a very exciting win, even though the dual meet was decided much earlier. Earlier in that dual, Tyler Bents won at 138 pounds in overtime over senior Payton Schiefelbein.

Any way you cut it, tonight marked a very impressive 2-0 start to the wrestling team's dual meet campaign.

At non-conference Minnewaska, the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team had five players score in double figures on their way to a big 75-51 win over the 2-1 Lakers. Shooting percentages were much-improved over their first three contests of the season. From the floor, the Jaguars shot 44 percent (26-of-59); at the charity stripe, they shot a respectable 64 percent (20-of-31). I also heard that the JV girls' basketball Jaguars improved to 2-1 on the season with a win over Minnewaska Area. They drubbed Osakis last night for their first win of the year after a season-opening loss at Menahga. They did not play against Melrose back on November 28, as the Dutchmen are not fielding a JV girls' basketball team this year. That is shocking considering that's a school with approximately 120 kids per grade in the upper high school grades (more than double what B-B-E's enrollment is).

Next: the Jaguars (3-1) now gear up for a huge home contest against Eden Valley-Watkins next Tuesday. We need to make sure we pack the gym that night!!!

At non-conference Ortonville tonight, the B-B-E Jaguars boys' basketball team could not overcome a poor shooting night and lost by three points, 45-42. The Trojans improve to 3-0, while the Jaguars fall to 1-2 overall. Next: a home contest on Monday against non-conference Hancock, in a game that will be aired on Smooth Magic 107 FM of Glenwood. The Owls are 2-0, and they are averaging 83 points a contest so far.

Below, video from the season opener for the girls' basketball team way back on November 28...seems so long ago! Been a hectic start for our newspaper in December.

##ConquerEveryDay

Area girls' basketball scores on December 8:
Maple Lake 48, Milaca 36
Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 73, Ortonville 63
Underwood 72, Battle Lake 35
Benson 59, Paynesville Area 36 (this is Benson's first win on the basketball court (girls' hoops) since February 23, 2016. On that night, the final game of the regular season, the Braves improved to 1-24 overall with a 67-64 win over Paynesville Area. Last season, Benson did not win a game.)
Hancock 42, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 24
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 51, MACCRAY 43
Osakis 61, Upsala 35 (Osakis improves to 1-3 on the season)

Area boys' basketball scores on December 8:
Dassel-Cokato 64, Kimball Area 61
Holdingford 59, Foley 43
Albany 69, New London-Spicer 46
Willmar 69, Sartell-St. Stephen 53
Eden Valley-Watkins 52, Litchfield 32 (impressive win for the Eagles in a border battle)
Brandon/Evansville 41, Browerville 40
Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 76, Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity 56
Dawson-Boyd 69, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 49
MACCRAY 45, Central MN Christian 43
Renville County West 72, Lac qui Parle Valley 44
Lakeview 70, Yellow Medicine East 33
Royalton 77, Pillager 58
BOLD 70, Sauk Centre 53
Minnewaska Area 71, Montevideo 55
Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 83, A-C-GC 58
Melrose Area 74, Benson 25 

Game night

Three of our four varsity teams are in action on the road tonight.

Updates to follow!

Girls get a win

The B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team overcame another cold shooting night in a 47-35 win at Osakis tonight. The Jaguars, led by Nicole Wesbur's 16 points and Macie Kirckof's 14 points, shot just 36 percent as a team from the floor.

Tonight's game was aired on Smooth Magic 107 FM of Glenwood. Osakis fell to 0-3 on the season.

Next is a road game at Minnewaska Area tomorrow night. It will also be on Glenwood radio.

Golf course clothing

Starting this week, Prairie View Golf Course of Brooten is selling golf course clothing (name brand stock) at the Bonanza Valley State Bank. Clothing is discounted just in time for Christmas!! This is a great way to support our local golf course while buying high-quality clothing that would be great under the Christmas tree!

Home opener

The B-B-E Jaguars boys' basketball team battled Sauk Centre in the home opener tonight. After trailing 19-15 at halftime, the Jaguars pulled ahead "in the 20s" before falling behind 42-32 late in the game. Final score: Sauk Centre 43, B-B-E 37.

Updates to follow.

Next: a trip to non-conference Ortonville this Friday. The Trojans beat visiting Lac qui Parle Valley 69-64 in two overtimes tonight in their season opener.

Here's action from the final minutes of the game, starting around the 4:30 mark:


Area boys' basketball scores on December 5:
Albany 65, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 31
Kimball Area 73, Upsala 42
Minnewaska Area 68, New London-Spicer 56
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 62, Paynesville Area 56
Melrose Area 74, Sartell-St. Stephen 69
Mora 69, Pierz 49
Eden Valley-Watkins 59, Osakis 43
Maple Lake 62, Norwood-Young America 43
Sebeka 66, Browerville 50
BOLD 75, Yellow Medicine East 51
Dawson-Boyd 61, Montevideo 53

Concert is postponed

Tonight's 7th-12th grade high school Christmas choral/band concert is postponed due to the impending inclement weather that's passing across Minnesota this afternoon.

On Tuesday, an announcement will be made on when it will be rescheduled to. The schedule looks awful!! I don't see any options!

Dang this weather!!!

(Videos) Musical ...and pioneer-style worship

Below is video from near the end of Act I at the B-B-E high school production of the musical 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown' on November 19:


Photos from the musical were published in the November 23 and 30 issues of the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper.

And here's video from this afternoon in rural Norway Lake:


Additional photos from this afternoon's worship service at the Old Log Church will be in the upcoming issue of the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper. I hope you're a subscriber!!  http://www.bonanzavalleyvoice.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/0025.1.724429030274818909/subscribe

AND don't forget! Tomorrow night (Monday) is the B-B-E high school's 7th-12th grade Christmas choral/band concert at 7 p.m.

Halftime in the Northland

At Menahga right now at halftime, the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team trails the Braves 31-24.

Final score: Menahga 65, B-B-E 39. Ouch! The Jaguars shot just 18 percent from the floor in the second half  (5-of-27). Next: a trip next Thursday (Dec. 7) to Osakis for a non-conference game.

Also, don't forget! As this was outlined on page one in this week's Bonanza Valley Voice...the 7th-12th grade band/choir Christmas concert is Monday night! It starts at 7 p.m. at the high school! Come out and show your support for our Fine Arts!

Wrestlers runners-up, basketball wins

The B-B-E Jaguars wrestling team landed six wrestlers in the championship rounds of their respective weight divisions at the home Jaguar Invitational tonight at the high school. Three earned titles! Canon Swanson, Tyler Jensen and Isaiah Gilbert all took first place. Individual placings for the Jaguars are as follows:
106: Walker Bents (second)
113: Blaine Fischer (fourth)
120: Canon Swanson (first)
126: Tyler Jensen (first)
132: Dylan Kampsen (second)
138: Tyler Bents (second)
145: Taiton Linder (did not place)
152: Isaiah Gilbert (first)
160: open
171: Mark Jenniges (third)
182: Trevor Kern (fifth)
195: Thaniel Cebulla (fourth)
220: Seth Roering (sixth)
285: Joe Thompson (fifth)

B-B-E's Isaiah Gilbert was named Most Valuable Wrestler for the 10-team invitational. Below is video from his semifinal win against a wrestler from Annandale/Maple Lake:


Next: the Jaguars travel to Kimball for a Central Minnesota Conference triangular a week from tonight - December 8 - to face the host Cubs and also Paynesville Area. The Bulldogs are also a Section 5A rival, and action begins at 5 p.m.


Here's video from the 120-pound championship match, featuring B-B-E's Canon Swanson:

In the season opener for the B-B-E Jaguars boys' basketball team, the Jaguars traveled to Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg and picked up a 44-41 win. Both teams shot cold from the floor: B-B-E at a 35 percent clip, with K-M-S at a 31 percent clip. Ethan Schwinghammer and Evan Wiener scored 11 points each to lead the Jaguars.

B-B-E goes for a 2-0 start to the season when they host Sauk Centre for the home opener next Tuesday, December 5. It will be the season opener for the Class 2A Mainstreeters.

First round in the book

At the home wrestling invitational, the B-B-E Jaguars sit in second place (61 points) behind Willmar (79 points).

Redwood-River Valley is in third place with 57 points.

Team standings before the finals began: 1. Willmar 240; 2. B-B-E 155; 3. Redwood-River Valley 148; 4. Annandale/Maple Lake 97; 5. MAHACA 84.5; 6. NLS 75; 7. Benson 72; 8. Ortonville 53; 9. Quad County 49; 10. Holdingford 20.

*Updates much later...the finals started at about 19:15. Blaine Fischer took second place at 113 pounds. Canon Swanson won the 120-pound title over a Willmar wrestler.

Tyler Jensen is tied 1-1 in the third period in his first-place match at 132 pounds. Jensen won 3-1 with a late takedown in the third period.

Dylan Kampsen and Tyler Bents both lost their first-place matches.