In a non-conference home game against Brandon-Evansville, the B-B-E Jaguars boys' basketball team notched an important sub-section win by a 69-53 score last night.
The game featured a meeting of the No. 2 and No. 3-ranked teams in Sub-Section 6A-South. It is likely that these teams will meet again in the sub-section semifinals if they win their openers.
Brandon-Evansville (12-12) displayed remarkable resilience after falling behind numerous times by 10 to 15 points in the second half. In the first half, the Chargers fell behind 35-23 with 3:38 to go before cutting the deficit to 38-31 at the break.
Here's the last 40 seconds of the first half last night:
Stinging from that small Chargers' run before halftime, the Jaguars came out of the locker room swinging as Luke Illies scored in the paint on their first possession, and Josh Walstrom followed with a three-pointer with 16:31 left for a 43-31 lead. The Chargers scored on their next possession, but the Jaguars proceeded to score 7 straight points, all by Hayden Sobiech, to go up 50-33 with 12:40 left.
A layup in traffic by Jordan Herickhoff and a three-pointer by Taylor Pieper gave the Jaguars a 57-43 lead with 8:40 to go. The Chargers cut it down to 64-53 on a long three-pointer by junior guard Tanner Riedel, but the Jaguars scored the last 5 points of the game.
Tonight, the Jaguars (15-8) host Maple Lake in a Central Minnesota Conference game. Prior to the game, Parents Night will be held, and I learned that it is also Alumni Appreciation night for the boys' basketball program.
After last night's game, I got pulled away from B-B-E sports by taking in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball playoff action via the Internet. B-B-E's Ashton Dingmann, Class of 2022, is a key reserve for the Gustavus Adolphus Gusties who scored six huge points in overtime action last night. The Gusties won the highest-scoring playoff game in MIAC history by a 124-116 score in double overtime. It was as wild of a game as you can imagine.
***COMMUNITY REMINDER: the B-B-E Knights of Columbus hosts their first of three Lenten season fish fries tonight at the KaDe Shack. They start serving at 5 p.m.!!! So before heading to the home boys' basketball game, stop by the KaDe Shack and show your support for our K of C chapter!
Dingmann and his Gustavus squad now prepare for the MIAC playoff championship game, which will take place at Gus Young Court in St. Peter at 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 24. The No. 2-seeded Gusties (17-10) take on No. 4-seeded Hamline (17-10) for an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III national tournament. Gustavus Adolphus is having their best men's basketball season since 2014-2015, when they lost in the MIAC playoff semifinals. They also had a strong season in 2013-2014 before a MIAC playoff semifinal loss, but between 2015 and 2022, the Gusties had numerous losing seasons. It's remarkable to see their success this year and exciting that one of B-B-E's best players to wear a Jaguar jersey is part of Gustavus's resurgence.
Area boys' basketball scores on February 22:
Paynesville Area 65, Minnewaska Area 51
Melrose Area 63, New London-Spicer 54
Parkers Prairie 61, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 50
Sauk Centre 53, Osakis 45 (a huge Section 6AA win for Coach Kevin Kuefler's Mainstreeters that solidifies their position at No. 3)
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 71, Lakeview 55
Battle Lake 80, New York Mills 46
Montevideo 69, Lac qui Parle Valley 45
