NOTE: more updates may come to this blog post later today. I am heading to the Minnesota Newspaper Association annual convention in Brooklyn Park, then returning before 5 o'clock for the girls/boys doubleheader in Belgrade!! BOTH varsity games are in Belgrade tonight! Girls at 6 p.m. and boys at 7:30 p.m. against Sauk Centre for HOOPS FOR HOPE night! BE THERE!
Physical play and terrific free throw shooting helped lift the No. 12-ranked Holdingford Huskers to a 68-64 win over our B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team tonight. A 10-game winning streak comes to an end. This was a very, very physical but well-played contest. Multiple possessions were contested with brute force at times. The Huskers had a huge edge in the paint. My notes show all but one Holdingford field goal in the first half coming outside the paint (that other shot was a three-pointer).
The Jaguars rocketed out of the gates to build a 7-2 lead with a trio of Jaguars scoring: Brooklyn Fischer with a three, Harley Roering on a slash to the bucket and Abby Berge on the right block to make it 7-2 with 15:15 to go. The Huskers then scored six straight points before Tiyana Schwinghammer connected from outside with a foot on the arc at the 13:10 mark. The Huskers posted a 6-0 run before Schwinghammer drove the right side of the lane with 11:52 left to make it a 14-11 deficit. Each team scored 5 points over the next 4 minutes for a 19-16 Holdingford lead. Berge and Schwinghammer scored back-to-back buckets to tie the game at 21-21, with Schwinghammer draining a three-pointer from the Coop's Corner parking lot with 6:05 to to and a 21-21 tie.
After trailing 31-27 at halftime, the Jaguars fell back as much as 51-36 (9:58 to go) before ultimately playing the second half to a draw at 37 points each. The never-say-die attitude they displayed was something incredible to witness. A win tonight just was not meant to be. This fighting spirit that our Jaguars have will serve them well come playoff time. The physicality and brute strength of Class 2A Holdingford is something not typically found in Class 1A teams.
The Jaguars (12-3 overall) shot just 30 percent from the floor in the first half but scorched the nets to the tune of 64 percent field goal shooting in the second half. Overall they were 14-of-22 at the free throw line, one area where better shooting would have helped. Abby Berge with 19 points, Harley Roering with 14 and Tiyana Schwinghammer with 13 led the way for B-B-E.
**Here's a short cell phone video clip from late in the game starting with about 2:25 to go:
This was a tough loss to swallow. Beyond thoughts of winning and losing, I am going to go back to where I've been this entire fall: I am extremely proud of our Jaguars. Tonight was an extra special night for me as my Class of 2031 daughter joined this Top-10 varsity squad on their home floor. The B-B-E third grade team (16 girls strong!) had their time in the limelight. Before the pre-game drills began, a couple seniors boldly stated to me that we needed a large group photo. YES!!!!! YES! THANK YOU! I did not have the presence of mind to push that idea forward, and even had I thought of it, I would have never asked for this right before the biggest conference game of the season. Now four hours later, I just reviewed what I snapped on my cell phone, and Oh Boy it was a picture that will be printed large and hung in my office. It just might make it to print in The Voice too! A very, truly special photo of my daughter's team with an unforgettable varsity team that we are standing behind all the way! This is one forever grateful dad.
**Here's a lengthy video clip featuring the National Anthem, player introductions (including the Class of 2031!) and the first 5 minutes of the game:
The Central Minnesota Conference is now in the hands of Holdingford, who has a virtual two-game lead over our Jaguars at 8-0 compared to 7-2. To at least pull into a tie, the Jaguars need some help from the rest of the CMC. It is possible.
Central MN Conference girls' basketball scores on January 26:
Paynesville Area 48, A-C-GC 34
Royalton 58, Maple Lake 28
Kimball Area 61, Eden Valley-Watkins 57 (at Eden Valley)
At Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg tonight, the B-B-E Jaguars wrestling team took it on the chin in a big, ugly way after they lost 41-18 to the host Fighting Saints. They trailed 35-14 at one point and were unable to come out of it. The loss will hurt at seeding time in Section 5A. The Jaguars defeated Benson in the other dual by a 45-26 score.
In our other home game tonight, the B-B-E Jaguars boys' basketball team pounded Kimball Area 84-52 to get back in the win column. Noteworthy: tonight was the first game this entire season when the Jaguars have played with their full lineup. Jamison Reed returned to action after missing a few games and scored 7 points with 3 rebounds and one steal. The Jaguars shot 50 percent from the floor and made 12 out of 26 three-point shots. At the line they were 8-for-11.
HEY! LET'S PACK THE GYM TOMORROW NIGHT!!! Sauk Centre comes to town. Let's fill the stands!!!! We can do it!
More to come. Video could be uploading if I could find my backup card reader!!! GRRRR.
