Season opener WIN! (VIDEOS*)

Wednesday night note: this blog post had a scoreboard added to it tonight. The rest you see here was posted late Tuesday night after the big win! Also, a new blog post with wrestling information is being added Wednesday night.

A strong first half tonight propelled the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team to a season-opening win against neighboring Melrose Area on the home court. After building a 36-21 halftime lead, the Jaguars played through some adversity in the second half and won by a 63-45 final score. The visitors started the game with a high level of energy and speed, but the home team's superior size got to the Dutchmen just a few minutes after tip-off.

Here's the starter introductions plus the game's opening tip-off:


It did not take long for the Jaguars to settle in with three new starters on the floor along with returning veterans Adley Hagen and Bree Thieschafer. Through two minutes, the score was tied 5-5 after Melrose Area scored on a three-pointer. Thieschafer had a steal and layup, and sophomore reserve Mya Worms drained a rebound shot with 14:20 to go for a 9-5 lead. These were the first two baskets of a 17-0 scoring surge by the Jaguars. After the Dutchmen scored to make it 22-7, Bree Radermacher canned a three-pointer, and Macey Roering followed that with a steal and layup for a 27-7 lead with 6 minutes left.

Across the last 6 minutes of the first half, the Dutchmen improved considerably on their ball control and whittled the large deficit down to 34-21 with a 10-0 scoring run. With 40 seconds left, the Dutchmen drained a fastbreak shot to make it 34-21. Kacey Fischer drained two free throws in the last 30 seconds for the 36-21 halftime lead.

Here's action from the closing minute of the first half tonight:


Early in the second half, the Jaguars led 45-28 with 13 minutes to go. The Dutchmen utilized a 9-0 run across the next 2 minutes, 20 seconds of play to make it 45-39. The next three minutes of the game brought out some sloppy play on both sides, and the Jaguars led just 48-43 with under 7 minutes remaining.

Some light game stats...
As a team, Melrose Area shot 34 percent from the floor and made 4 of 20 three-point shots. The Jaguars, meanwhile, shot just 32 percent from the floor and went just 14-for-28 at the free throw line. Three-point shots were made by Adley Hagen, Bree Radermacher and Teagan Dingmann. The Jaguars launched a total of 14 threes in the game.

Video is uploading.

Area girls' basketball scores on November 26:
Minnewaska Area 70, Eden Valley-Watkins 24
Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 47, Maple Lake 42
Braham 60, Ogilvie 54
Osakis 46, Paynesville Area 44
Kimball Area 75, Rocori 29
Hancock 63, Canby 29
Alexandria 81, Brainerd 76
New London-Spicer 50, West Central Area 39
Montevideo 76, Dawson-Boyd 39
Upsala 50, Pierz 35
Sauk Centre 65, St. Cloud Cathedral 41
Willmar 84, Sauk Rapids-Rice 28
Swanville 50, Sebeka 43
Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 89, Ortonville 20
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 74, Henning 24
BOLD 88, Yellow Medicine East 43
Pipestone Area 65, Lac qui Parle Valley 40
Underwood 51, New York Mills 48
Holdingford 57, Albany 43
Bertha-Hewitt 58, Browerville 23
Cedar Mountain 54, Renville County West 32
Wadena-Deer Creek 39, Pine River-Backus 37
Royalton 62, Annandale 56