Jaguars get back to winning (VIDEO)

In a big Central Minnesota Conference game at Royalton tonight, the B-B-E Jaguars boys' basketball team shook off what was perhaps their worst performance of the season by knocking off the Royals by a 60-55 score. The Jaguars built a lead as large as 55-43 in the closing minutes. With 8 seconds to go, the Royals had closed it to 58-55 before the Jaguars held on for the win.

Luke Illies led the Jaguars with 16 points, 4 assists, 8 rebounds and 3 steals. Josh Walstrom had 15 points, and Lance Radermacher earned his first-ever double double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. The Jaguars shot 31 percent on field goals and made 9 of 25 three-point attempts. At the free throw line, they were 15-for-24.

Royalton falls to 5-8 overall (1-5 CMC), while the Jaguars improve to 3-10 (2-3 CMC). Next: the Jaguars continue their four-game road swing with a trip into Morrison County to Upsala (9-3, 3-0 Prairie Conference) next Tuesday, January 21. The Cardinals are the No. 2-ranked team in Sub-Section 5A-East.

In girls' basketball action...
In a key Section 5A matchup, the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team withstood a strong test from a young Pine River-Backus team while recording a 63-52 win. At halftime, the Jaguars led 36-20, but the Tigers scored the first 9 points of the second half. They hold an 11-6 overall record going into a big CMC game next Tuesday at Kimball Area (10-4, 5-1). The Tigers are 10-5 overall.

Kacey Fischer poured in 25 points with 11 rebounds, and Bree Thieschafer scored 16 points with 3 rebounds and 6 steals.

Here's a video from the first half of the game tonight:


In a CMC game tonight at Maple Lake, the Kimball girls' basketball team won 53-24.

In wrestling action tonight...
The B-B-E Jaguars wrestling team finished in third place out of 8 teams. Their next action is a home triangular next Thursday, January 23 with state-ranked Minneota and Canby.

Individual B-B-E results at NL-S:
107: Noah Jensen 2nd place.
114: Noah Welte 3rd place.
121: Noah DeRoo 5th place.
127: Jace Mueller 4th place.
133: Logan Oeltjenbruns 5th place.
139: Louie Tensen 6th place.
145: Dylan Koob 6th place.
152: Andrew Spanier 6th place.
160: Brett DeRoo 1st place.
172: open.
189: Hunter Laage 2nd place.
215: Carson Gilbert 1st place.
285: Eli Wold 6th place.

Team scores at NL-S tonight:
1. Pierz 232
2. NL-S 174
3. B-B-E 153
4. Eden Valley-Watkins 134.5
5. Pipestone Area 92
6. Glencoe-Silver Lake/Lester Prairie 84
7. Kimball Area 83.5
8. Sartell-St. Stephen 68

Area girls' basketball scores on January 17:
Hancock 75, Ashby 23
Sauk Centre 56, Albany 40
Royalton 66, St. Cloud Area 32
Mountain Iron-Buhl 75, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 67

Area boys' basketball scores on January 17:
Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 57, Sauk Centre 49
Melrose Area 49, Benson 42
Osakis 67, Swanville 58
Parkers Prairie 68, Wadena-Deer Creek 43
Henning 67, Battle Lake 45
Renville County West 70, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 63