Jaguars take down 20-win Braves team (VIDEOS, updated Tuesday*)

This blog post has been updated twice on Tuesday...

In a game with multiple lead changes and multiple runs where each team scored in bunches, the B-B-E Jaguars boys' basketball team scored a giant upset win tonight on the home floor by defeating Benson 65-62. They played outstanding defense while holding the Braves 14 points below their scoring average.

At halftime, the Jaguars led 38-34. Benson used an 8-0 run to erase B-B-E's lead as the second half developed. Two three-pointers and a layup put Benson ahead 44-41 with 14:08 to go.

With 7 minutes to go in the game, Benson pulled in front 53-48 after their 6'7" senior post, Harold Habben, scored 3 straight shots in the paint. This all came after Hudson Reed scored in the lane with 11:40 left to put the Jaguars ahead 48-47. Trailing by 5 points, B-B-E then manufactured an incredible comeback starting with a three-pointer and then a shot under the basket for a tie score with 5:45 to go.

Benson falls to 20-4 overall, while the Jaguars are 13-11 going into tomorrow's home game against Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City. The A-C-GC game is huge! The Jaguars (7-6 CMC) have to beat the Falcons in order to clinch part of third place in the CMC standings. Royalton is currently in a tie for third with the Jaguars; they play at Maple Lake on Tuesday to close out the CMC schedule.

BREAKING news on Tuesday afternoon: the game against A-C-GC has been cancelled. This is due to an error on A-C-GC's part with their regular season schedule. That's what I know. The game will not be made up. So please spread the word: there's no home game tonight in Brooten. It's an "off" night.

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


B-B-E finishes the regular season with a Section 6A game against Ashby in Brooten on Friday this week. The Arrows are 6-18 overall; they went 2-14 in the Little Eight Conference for 9th place.

And here's a video featuring action during the final minute of the game:


In the Section 6A standings, this win may not move them enough to make a difference on the QRF. The Jaguars are No. 10, while Hancock is No. 9 and West Central Area No. 8. In the No. 7 spot currently is Underwood (18-5). The Underwood Rockets appear solidly at No. 7, but it is possible they leap above Benson. This would move the Braves down to No. 7. For West Central Area, they are 9-14 overall with 2 games left: BOLD and Border West. I predict WCA wins out and remains at the No. 8 spot. Hancock could make some moves in the standings if they win at Underwood tonight in a Little Eight Conference game. In the first Hancock vs. Underwood meeting, which was back on February 12 in Hancock, the Rockets won 65-62.

Regardless of all the potential moves up and down for teams in the Section 6A standings, tonight's win is a huge confidence booster for a B-B-E team that has already been playing superb basketball as of late. B-B-E has just one loss this season to a Class 1A team (Hancock), and they've won 5 of their last 6 games. Winning out this week will set them up for a nice run during March Madness!

Section 6A boys' basketball update...Hancock clinched second place alone in the Little Eight Conference by defeating Underwood on Monday 82-71. This puts them at 13-3 in the Little Eight, while Underwood finishes the loop 11-5. The Rockets could have tied the Owls for second place with a win. It will be interesting to see how this shakes out in the section rankings!

UPDATE for the Central Minnesota Conference...on Monday, Holdingford earned a 70-61 win against Paynesville to pull into a virtual tie for first place with the Bulldogs. The Huskers hosted Paynesville in a key CMC game. The Bulldogs finished the loop with a 13-1 record, so they have at least a share of the title. Holdingford (19-6) has to win at Kimball on Friday this week in order to clinch a share of the title. If the Cubs beat the Huskers, Paynesville (15-11) would win the CMC outright.

Area boys' basketball scores on February 23:
Montevideo 70, Melrose Area 41
Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 65, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 42
Central MN Christian 79, Renville County West 48
Browerville 68, Parkers Prairie 67
Brandon-Evansville 78, Border West 67
Canby 58, MACCRAY 55
Hancock 82, Underwood 71
Willmar 91, Detroit Lakes 76