Step II: boys' basketball team heads to the finals, wrestlers advance to state

The B-B-E Jaguars boys' basketball team won 69-38 today against Verndale. Kaden Pieper led the Jaguars with 18 points, including 14 points in the first half. Two other Jaguars were in double figures with 11 points each: Ryan Schwinghammer and Ashton Dingmann. They take a 16-4 record into the Sub-Section 5A-West championship game. 

This marks the fourth year in a row that both the B-B-E boys' and girls' basketball teams will play in a championship playoff game.

*NEXT: the Jaguars travel to Nevis high school on Wednesday, March 24 for a 7 p.m. game.

More to come.

Here's the first video I shot this afternoon:

The video starts with Ryan Jensen beginning his 120-pound championship match in the 120-pound division. His match wraps up at the 6:49 mark on the video clip. Following his match, Walker Bents takes the mat in the 126-pound title match.

Here's video from the third-place match at 195 pounds...featuring Carson Gilbert battling to keep his season alive:

Wrestling results from the Section 5A/6A state preliminary matches:

- At 120 pounds, Ryan Jensen advances to next week with a first-place finish by virtue of a win by a 9-2 decision in the finals.

-At 126 pounds, Walker Bents advances to next week with a first-place finish by virtue of a win by an 8-1 decision in the finals.

-At 145 pounds, Blaine Fischer advances to next week with a first-place finish with a win by pin (1:07).

Yet to be decided: true second matches at 138 and 152 pounds. Still in contention are Tyler Jensen and Maximus Hanson.

***Update: Tyler Jensen punched his ticket with a win by a 3-0 decision in the true second match.

At 152 pounds, Maximus Hanson lost a heartbreaker by a 9-5 decision. His freshmen season is a wrap.