Struggles down the stretch

***As stated in the previous blog post, B-B-E schools will have a two-hour late start for tomorrow, Wednesday, November 27. As of now, the home varsity wrestling tournament is still on.

The B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team struggled down the stretch against Melrose Area tonight and suffered a 54-44 loss to open the season. This was Melrose Area's first win over B-B-E since February 3, 2015. That game, played at Melrose, had a final score of 61-51; the Jaguars led 31-30 at halftime. Tonight's game was played at the elementary school due to the high school hosting a JV wrestling tournament.

With 10 minutes to go, Melrose held a 27-25 lead after forging ahead 27-20. Both teams went through a scoreless drought for the first six minutes of the second half.

With 3:12 to go, the Dutchmen built their lead to 45-36 after the game was tied 27-27. The visitors' lead grew to 54-43 in the final minute.

Next: the Jaguars (0-1) host defending champion Eden Valley-Watkins next Tuesday, December 3 for the Central Minnesota Conference opener. To open their season, the EV-W Eagles lost 57-41 to Rochester Lourdes last Saturday in the Breakdown Tip-Off Classic at Hopkins high school. The Eagles (0-1) had a game with Minnewaska Area tonight, but that game was called off due to the inclement weather we are experiencing.

EV-W has won the last five CMC titles. Their last three titles have been outright. In the 2014-2015 season, EV-W went 13-1 to edge B-B-E for the CMC title. They went 12-2 to earn a co-championship with Kimball Area in the 2015-2016 season.

Area girls' basketball scores on November 26:
Benson 51, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 44
Royalton 52, Milaca 47
Maple Lake 54, Dassel-Cokato 52 (Irish trailed by as many as 16 points!)
New London-Spicer 61, West Central Area 32