Step II: Girls' hoops are 2-0 in the playoffs, heading to the 'Ship!

This never gets old! And it never gets old saying that.

In the Sub-Section 5A-West semifinals tonight at Wadena-Deer Creek high school, the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team fought hard early against an inspired, upstart Pine River-Backus team before pulling away in the second half. At halftime, the Jaguars led 34-24 after the game was tied 18-18 with 7:30 left.

Final: B-B-E 70, PR-B 44. The Tigers finish 13-15 overall.

The Jaguars (23-4) move on to the subsection finals, which will be held on Tuesday, March 7 back at W-DC high school with a 7 p.m. tip-off. Spread the word! The opponent will be fleet-footed, tough-as-nails Walker-Hackensack-Akeley. The Wolves (21-7) are the No. 3 seed, although right now seeding means absolutely nothing. The only stat that matters is that both teams are 2-0, and the outcome of the next game will likely come down to who wants it more and who has more fire in the belly.

Looking back, the Jaguars have advanced to the subsection finals every year since the 2013-2014 season. This is incredible!!! By my count, this is their 10th straight apperance in a championship postseason game.

*Here's a key moment late in the other semifinal game tonight in Wadena:


W-H-A prevailed in a giant contest between teams that split in the regular season. The atmosphere was loud almost from start to finish with proud contingents of fans on each side. This was quite a win for the Wolves after they lost 52-34 on their home floor to Nevis in the teams' last meeting on January 30.

*Here's video from late in the first half against PR-B:


In B-B-E's game with PR-B, the Tigers shot 41 percent from the floor but were cold at the line with a 7-of-14 effort. The Jaguars shot 55 percent for the game from the floor but were an abysmal 5-of-16 at the line. They had five second-half free throw attempts and made just one of them.

More to come. Stats are being reviewed, and more video is uploading.

Area girls’ basketball playoff scores on March 4:
Mountain Iron-Buhl 81, Cherry 19
Cass Lake-Bena 55, Kelliher/Northome 50
South Ridge 80, Chisolm 44
Underwood 63, New York Mills 59
Hancock 64, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 44
Sauk Centre 62, Eden Valley-Watkins 45
Albany 57, Milaca 35
Pine City 67, Kimball Area 60
Holdingford 49, Royalton 27
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 59, Wheaton/Herman-Norcross 51 (Fighting Saints are 22-6 and nearing the season record for wins)
Henning 67, Breckenridge 57