In his first wrestleback match of the state tournament, freshmen Tyler Jensen of the B-B-E Jaguars wrestling team won a 6-5 decision tonight to stay alive in the 132-pound bracket. It is the first state win of his career. How awesome is that! He defeated senior Nate Williams of Crosby-Ironton (ending his season) whose final record this year was 41-8. Way to make a statement!
Jensen (35-13) went 0-1 at state last year in his first appearance at the big show and finished his eighth grade season with a 35-15 overall record.
Action continues tomorrow morning with the quarterfinals of the consolation bracket beginning at 9:30 a.m. with all classes split amongst the eight mats at Xcel Energy Center. The third- and fifth-place matches start at 4 p.m., and the championship matches for the 14 weight divisions of Classes 1A, 2A and 3A will follow that.
At 106: Walker Bents is 2-0 in his state bracket and competes in the Class 1A state semifinals on Saturday morning.
At 120: Blaine Fischer is 2-0 in his state bracket and semifinals-bound.
At 126: Canon Swanson is also 2-0 in his state bracket and heading to the state semifinals.
At 132: Tyler Jensen is 1-1 in his state bracket and fights to stay alive in consolations with action resuming on Saturday.
At 138: Tyler Bents is 2-0 at state and heading to the state semifinals for the second year in a row.
In basketball news...big news!
The B-B-E Jaguars boys' basketball team remained in the hunt for a share of the Central Minnesota Conference title. They did so with a convincing 77-61 win at Kimball Area tonight. At halftime, B-B-E led 37-26. I really would rate it a statement win for the Jaguars! Great job!!
Next: the Jaguars (14-11) will host CMC front-runner Eden Valley-Watkins (12-11) tomorrow (Saturday) for a 2 p.m. matinee contest. The game will put a bookend on the regular season. Playoffs will start next Thursday, March 7 on the home court at with a 7 p.m. tip-off.
Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted (13-12) defeated Maple Lake 43-41 to button up Maple Lake’s CMC slate with a 9-5 mark. HL-W-W is tied for third place with B-B-E at 8-5. Maple Lake is 14-12 overall, while HL-W-W is 13-12.
Area boys' basketball scores on March 1:
Ortonville 89, Wheaton/Herman-Norcross 75
Holdingford 74, St. John’s Prep 72
Parkers Prairie 70, West Central Area 52
Alexandria 63, Willmar 61
Area girls’ basketball playoff scores on March 1:
BOLD 65, Central MN Christian 50
Minneota 57, Lac qui Parle Valley 41
Saturday will be a busy day! Five B-B-E wrestlers in action at Day II of the state tournament...and the girls' basketball team in the second round of playoffs with a sub-section finals berth on the line...PLUS the boys' basketball team throwing all they've got at the first-place team in the conference while trying to earn a share of hardware themselves. It's kind of all crazy if you ask me!
