Step I: girls' basketball wins playoff opener (VIDEO)

The first step of their playoff journey was a success tonight, as the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team easily handled Long Prairie-Grey Eagle in a 61-27 win. They led 35-15 at halftime and were led by Tiyana Schwinghammer's 18 points.

Next: the Jaguars (17-9) travel to Wadena-Deer Creek for the semifinals on Saturday, March 5 with a tip-off at 6 p.m. The Jaguars will face either Pine River-Backus or Walker-Hackensack-Akeley.

**UPDATE: the Pine River-Backus Tigers defeated Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 53-50 to advance to the semifinals. Tonight's quarterfinal game at PR-B high school was the rubber game between the Northwoods South Conference rivals, with PR-B improving to 13-12 overall. W-H-A's season ends with a 13-11 mark.

**Here's a 13-minute long video featuring action from the second half of the Kimball game on February 25:


Section 5A, sub-section quarterfinal scores on March 3:
Pine River-Backus 53, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 50
Nevis 53, Verndale 43
Braham 56, East Central 19
Swanville 77, McGregor 34
Barnum 53, Upsala 51
Ogilvie 69, Mille Lacs 61

Area girls' basketball playoff scores on March 3:
Holdingford 59, Eden Valley-Watkins 57
Kimball Area 67, St. Cloud Cathedral 52
Wheaton/Herman-Norcross 69, Ortonville 33
Hancock 75, Benson 15
Foley 54, Melrose Area 38
Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 59, Parkers Prairie 58
Brandon-Evansville 51, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 48
Ada-Borup West 56, Henning 50 (Henning was the higher seed)
Royalton 58, Spectrum 44
Osakis 58, Rush City 42
Minneapolis North 44, Maple Lake 37
Sauk Centre 79, Mora 23