An exciting win and a tough, tough loss (VIDEOS*, updates)

Two varsity games played out today with vastly differing styles.

In the first varsity game, the B-B-E Jaguars boys' basketball team evened their record at 1-1 with a blowout win over Brandon-Evansville. In the opening minutes of the second half, the Jaguars expanded a 38-31 lead to a 17-point margin. Final: B-B-E 68, Brandon-Evansville 51. The Jaguars lost 66-42 last Tuesday in their season opener at Minnewaska Area.

The Chargers boys' basketball team fell to 1-2 overall.

Both of B-B-E's JV squads defeated Brandon-Evansville. For the boys' JV team, they overcame a double-digit deficit. In the final minute, sophomore Walker Winter put the Jaguars ahead with a three-pointer. He later sank 2 free throws to give the Jaguars the win.

In the varsity boys game, the Jaguars played with great intensity and hustle after halftime. Coach Rambow was able to utilize multiple reserves down the stretch after the lead approached 20 points. It was a great team win. They are set to travel to Long Prairie next Tuesday, but the weather may change that.

On the girls' basketball side...
Brutal, ice-cold shooting cost the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team a shot at a 3-0 start to the season today. After holding a 26-19 halftime lead, the Jaguars went stone cold from the floor in a 50-48 loss to Brandon-Evansville. Down 50-46 late in the game, Kamie Fischer made two bonus free throws. The Jaguars fought to the bitter end, but a last-second field goal shot was thwarted by physical play with no foul called.

In the second half, the Jaguars launched 35 field goal attempts, but just 7 went through the basket. Their overall field goal shooting was a dismal 26 percent.

The Chargers girls' basketball team improved to 3-1 overall. They were coming off of a 74-62 loss last night to visiting Hancock in a Little Eight Conference game.

The C-squad girls' basketball team won their season opener by defeating the Chargers 28-16.

It's hard to say when the next basketball games will take place. The current forecast calls for 3 to 5 inches of snow on Tuesday. On the home front (or rather, office front) I have 16 videos to go over from today and at least 300 pictures taken from multiple events. It was a crazy, crazy busy Saturday.

Here's a video from the second half of the boys' basketball game today:


Here's a video featuring Coach Anderson speaking about the Hoops For Hope fundraiser:


The Hoops For Hope Foundation was started in 2006. Its offical website is: https://www.hoopsforhopefoundation.com.

*Here's a video added on Sunday that has the tip-off and opening minutes of the girls' basketball game:


In wrestling news...
At the Parkers Prairie triangular on Thursday night, the B-B-E Jaguars wrestling team fell to 2-3 overall with a 61-9 loss to Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg followed by a 54-24 loss to Parkers Prairie/Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale. In the other dual on Thursday night, PP/BH/V lost 34-32 to K-M-S. The wrestling team's next action is on the home mats on Friday, December 12 with a Central Minnesota Conference triangular. The other teams are Paynesville and Kimball.

In other news...
The Brooten Santa Day events were a smashing success! The turnout was remarkable. Huge crowds gathered at both Lucky Shots Bowling Alley and across the street at the KaDe Shack. For the lighted Christmas parade, Main Street was packed end to end with vehicles.

Earlier today, Elrosa hosted a terrific Santa Day at the Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic church basement.

That's all I've got for this blog post tonight. Church is at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow. It's time to call it a day.

Coming on Sunday: Grace Lutheran Church hosts a Christmas program at 2 p.m. that features music by The Porch Players from Kandiyohi County. Everyone is welcome! No admission charge!

In college volleyball news...
B-B-E Class of 2022 graduate Emily Kern saw her women's volleyball career come to a close on Saturday night in the Central Region Championship, which is the Division II Sweet 16 round. The winner of that match advances to the Elite 8 of the NCAA DII National Tournament. Kern was a senior defensive specialist for the St. Cloud State University Huskies, who won the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) tournament to advance to the national tournament.

In the Sweet 16 on Saturday, the No. 5-ranked SCSU Huskies faced No. 4-ranked and NSIC rival Concordia-St. Paul. The match was played at the Health and Sports Center at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. The Golden Bears avenged a loss in the NSIC tournament finals with a 3-2 win, which included a 15-10 win in game five. Kern had 16 digs and one set assist.