Updates coming here late Wednesday night with the area scoreboard***
Better overall field goal shooting helped the Benson Braves overcome the B-B-E Jaguars boys' basketball team in an early-season meeting of Sub-Section 6A-South rivals. The Jaguars built a 37-31 halftime lead, but they could not hold onto one-possession leads in the final stretch of regulation play. The whole show "went south" in overtime, with the Braves outscoring the hosts 14-6 to claim the big win. Final: Benson 73, B-B-E 65 in OT.
From the field, the Braves (2-1 overall) shot 43 percent compared to 33 percent by the Jaguars. At the free throw line, the Braves were 7-of-12 compared to the Jaguars getting just 3 charity shots and making one. Junior guard Taylor Pieper led the Jaguars with a season-high 23 points.
Next for the boys' basketball team: the Jaguars (0-4) host Kimball Area next Tuesday, December 17 for the Central Minnesota Conference opener.
Switching over to the girls' basketball team...
In another home game tonight, the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team prevailed 62-52 in their CMC opener against Kimball Area. They led 28-20 at halftime and expanded the lead in the second half to as much as 62-43 in the final 4 minutes. The Cubs (3-3, 0-1) drained back-to-back three-pointers down the stretch, but the Jaguars held them at bay in the last 2 minutes of the game.
Here's a video featuring the playing of the National Anthem, the starter introductions, tip-off and opening minutes of the game:
The Jaguars had terrific balance with five players in double figures who all scored between 10 and 15 points. B-B-E scoring: Kacey Fischer 15, Macey Roering 14, Adley Hagen 11, Bree Thieschafer 11, Teagan Dingman 10. Next: the girls' basketball team (3-2, 1-0) hosts Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (5-0) in a non-conference border battle this Thursday night.
Here's a video from the second half of the Kimball win:
Central MN Conference girls' basketball scores on December 10:
These are the CMC openers...
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 46, Maple Lake 45 (A-C-GC won last night 50-40 against Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted)
Royalton 58, Eden Valley-Watkins 33
Holdingford 61, Paynesville Area 44
Area girls' basketball scores on December 10:
Parkers Prairie 50, Battle Lake 34
New London-Spicer 54, Minnewaska Area 47
Sauk Centre 57, West Central Area 39
Little Falls 60, Albany 47
Braham 72, Hinckley-Finlayson 11
Ogilvie 79, East Central 48
Milaca 78, Pierz 53
Melrose Area 46, Benson 37
Montevideo 49, Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 27
Brainerd 57, Willmar 55
Hancock 70, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 55
Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 74, Brandon-Evansville 46
MACCRAY 72, Ortonville 20
Yellow Medicine East 63, Renville County West 56
Lac qui Parle Valley 54, Dawson-Boyd 44
Minneota 50, Lakeview 44
Upsala 65, Verndale 28
Pine River-Backus 70, Sebeka 63
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 70, Mahnomen/Waubun 52
Area boys' basketball scores on December 10:
Paynesville Area 54, Litchfield 53
Montevideo 96, Canby 36
Heritage Christian 44, Melrose Area 35
Minnewaska Area 67, New London-Spicer 60
Albany 88, Becker 48
Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 68, Eden Valley-Watkins 45
Brandon-Evansville 71, Hancock 35
Battle Lake 74, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 36
Kimball Area 78, Dassel-Cokato 69
Henning 84, Menahga 42
Renville County West 55, Lakeview 52
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 80, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart 45
