Step VII: what an incredible game, and a very tough ending (video added)

**** Welcome home information for the team is posted below here. They have a slight time change. I'm updating the blog on the fly. The rain and traffic have made it hard to estimate their ETA. So be on your toes, as they don't want to keep the players on the bus any longer than they need to.

*** Please spread the word. Remember your mask and stay home if you are sick or feel sick. COVID has been spreading in our area.

The record-setting seventh playoff game for the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team went the way of the top-ranked and undefeated Minneota Vikings. The final score was 48-45. It was a truly unbelievable game that had intensity and great plays from wire to wire. The Jaguars came OH SO CLOSE to overcoming a nearly insurmountable 40-24 deficit in the second half.

With 11:27 left in the game, senior guard Abby Rost scored on a fast-break layup to put Minneota ahead 40-24. They were held to just eight points for the rest of the game.

The really big difference in the game was Minneota (25-0) making good on 6 of 15 three-point shots...the Jaguars made 1 out of 12 for the game beyond the arc. A late three-pointer by Josie Knutson with just over a minute left kept the Jaguars' hopes alive, trailing 43-41 at that point. Their defense had held the Vikings to just two points in a 10-minute span of that second half.

For the game, the Jaguars shot 12-for-20 at the free throw line. Minneota made 8 of 13 free throw shots.

Josie Knutson and Allisa Knight led the Jaguars (23-2) with 11 points each. Karissa Jones had 8 points. B-B-E reached 23 wins, which is the second-most wins in school history. They went 24-6 two years ago to set the school record for wins.

The Jaguars played with heart, guts and determination from wire to wire. They never gave up while battling a team that has been dominant in Class 1A basketball for the past 10-plus years. Minneota has won state titles in 2013, 2019 and now 2021. They've played in nine state tournaments since 2011 and were state runners-up in 2014.

I COULD NOT BE PROUDER OF OUR JAGUARS!!!!!!

**Here's video taken early in the first half today. Jackie Lindsay tied the game up at 2-2:


**Here's a video featuring the player introductions before Tuesday's semifinal game against Sleepy Eye St. Mary's:



More to come. ** I will post welcome home information for tonight at the high school. Bring your masks!! That will be determined once the team departs from Target Center.

UPDATE: please spread the word that the welcome home is at **5:40 p.m. tonight at the high school. Don't forget your masks.

The team left Monticello at 4:25 p.m., so they will be back earlier than 6 p.m. Let's be ready!

And if you miss it, don't worry, I will record it.

FINAL update to this post: I am adding a short video taken at the high school tonight (outside)...but that is in a new blog post. That's it for this post. 

THANK YOU to Bonanza Valley State Bank of Brooten for the extended playoff and state tournament sports advertising in the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper! We couldn't do this extra coverage without that needed support.