Bucs rally past Huskies for title
Jason Wilcox - Sentinel Sports WriterArticle Photos
BLUE EARTH - Nick Lee's early first half dominance proved decisive for the Blue Earth Area Bucs.
Lee poured in 31 points, 18 in the first half, as the Bucs claimed victory in the championship game of their own holiday basketball tournament, 75-63 over Jackson County Central on Tuesday in Blue Earth.
Lee added 13 of the Bucs' 40 rebounds.
The Bucs jumped out to a 13-2 run, led by seven points from Lee and led the bulk of the first half, until a late Husky rally.
Jackson County Central's Matt Kocak hit a buzzer-beating triple, ensuring a 35-all halftime tie.
The Huskies, helped by 23 points from Ty Schwarting, built that lead to as many as seven points in the second half, but the Bucs rallied in the final seven minutes.
Nate Carr added 17 points and five steals for the hosts, while Garrett Anderson also scored 14 points.
Nolan Luhman came off the JCC bench to score 11 points, while Kocak had 10.
The Bucs were 28 of 65 from the floor and 17 of 32 at the free throw line, while the Huskies were 25 of 54 and 9 of 18, respectively.
Blue Earth Area (5-1) plays host to Jordan on Tuesday, Jan. 5.
JCC 35-28-63
BEA 35-40-75
Granada-Huntley-East Chain 64, United South Central 42 - Mason Teachout scored 24 points, 15 in the second half, to lead the Mustangs past the Rebels 64-42 on Tuesday and claim third place during the Blue Earth Area Holiday Tournament.
Teachout added nine rebounds.
The Mustangs started off with a 9-0 lead and never looked back, holding double-digit leads most of the contest.
Jordan Stennes also reached double figures for the Mustangs with 14 points in addition to seven assists. Doug Garry, Brandon Meester and Kole Kristenson each scored eight points with Garry adding six rebounds.
The Mustangs were 8 of 12 at the free throw line, while the Rebels were 6 of 7.
Riley Swearingen led all scorers, putting in 25 for the Rebels.
Granada-Huntley-East Chain (3-4) hits the road to Nicollet on Tuesday, Jan. 5.
USC 15-27-42
GHEC 26-38-64
Fairmont 74, Immanuel Lutheran 39 - Joey Fitzgerald scored 12 points, grabbed six rebounds and added three steals to lead the Cardinals to a 74-39 win over Immanuel Lutheran on Tuesday in the Bethany College Invite in Mankato.
Fairmont (4-2) faces Mankato Loyola at 6:30 p.m. tonight in the consolation championship game.
Justin Heinrich added 11 points and Brandon Splinter had 10 points. Will Hawkins grabbed 10 rebounds, while Kevin Hanson had five caroms. Logan Peymann snared three steals.
The Cardinals were 12 of 14 at the free throw line.
Fmt 42-32-74
IL 16-23-39
Martin County West 58, New Ulm 49 - Conner Grupe scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Mavericks to a 58-49 win Tuesday over the Eagles during the Windom Holiday Tournament.
Martin County West (5-1) plays Windom for the tournament title at 6:30 p.m. today in Windom.
Mitch Olson scored 17 points and added seven rebounds, while Steven Zehms contributed eight points, going 5-for-5 from the foul line.
Zach Quiring had 18 points, while Justin Brethorst added 15 for the Eagles.
The Mavericks were 19 of 31 from the floor, including 2-for-2 on 3-pointers, and were 18 of 27 at the foul line. The Eagles were 9 of 18 on free throws.
MCW 19-39-58
NU 20-29-49
Mountain Lake/Butterfield-Odin 68, Truman 67 - Beau Herrig's hoop as time expired led the Wolverines to a 68-67 win over the Bluejays during the Mountain Lake/Butterfield-Odin Invitational on Tuesday in Mountain Lake.
Truman (1-6) faces Round Lake-Brewster today at 6 p.m. for third place, while the host Wolverines play Mountain Lake Christian, a 59-57 winner over Round Lake-Brewster, at approximately 8 p.m.
Beau Herrig had 20 points and 20 rebounds, while Steven Herrig added 15 points.
Levi Ekstrom led the Bluejays with 29 points, including seven 3-pointers, while Seth Kick scored 20 points and Clayton Feis scored eight.
Mountain Lake Christian 59, Round Lake-Brewster 57 - Jordan Holman scored 22 points to lead the Bears to a 59-57 win over RLB during the MLBO Invitational on Tuesday.
Josiah Stoesz scored 19 for the Bears.
Ben Cunningham and Tyler Oolbekink added 14 and 11 respective points for Round Lake-Brewster.
Girls basketball
Fairmont 42, Fulda 38 - Alyssa Niss scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds to lead the Cardinals to a 42-38 Tuesday win over the Raiders during the Windom Holiday Tournament.
Fairmont (7-1) plays Windom, a 60-38 winner over New Ulm, in the championship game at 3:30 p.m. today in Windom.
Kirsten True added 12 points, while Ariel Berhow had nine points and five rebounds.
Courtney Hulstein and Lane Gehl each scored nine points for the Raiders.
The Cardinals were 13 of 35 on 2-pointers, 1 of 4 on 3-pointers and 10 of 22 at the free throw line.
Fairmont 20-22-42
Fulda 26-12-38
In B-squad action, Fairmont was a 35-31 winner over Fulda on Tuesday. Megan Roloff had 17 points, while Justine Gerdts had eight points and six steals. Megan Fuhrman contributed eight points and five rebounds. Fairmont (5-0) plays Windom at 6:30 p.m. tonight for the B-squad tournament title.
Blue Earth Area 45, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva 43 - Ashley Olson's hoop with four seconds remaining lifted the Bucs to a 45-43 win Tuesday over the Panthers during the St. Clair Holiday Tournament.
Blue Earth Area (6-3) plays Canby at 8:15 p.m. tonight for the tournament title.
Olson led the Bucs with 11 points. Kate Hassing contributed 10 points and five rebounds, while Camille Driscoll had seven points and five rebounds. Alicia Rorman and Meghan Mittlestadt had three assists and three steals, respectively.
Alyssa Kerkhoff added 13 points and Alyssa Hagen scored eight for the Panthers (7-2).
The Bucs were 7 of 15 on free throws and the Panthers were 8 of 14.
Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 54, Martin Luther 43 - Tara Roelofs scored 15 points and Karina Schroeder added 10 to lead the LCWM Knights to a 54-43 win over the Martin Luther Knights on Tuesday at the Mankato Loyola Tournament.
Martin Luther (6-3) faces either Jackson County Central or Mankato Loyola at 6 p.m. tonight.
Aly Bremer had 12 points, six rebounds and three assists for Martin Luther, while Haley Geistfeld added 10 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals. Steph Senne contributed nine points and three assists.
Martin Luther was 10 of 14 at the foul line and LCWM was 7 of 11.
LCWM 24-30-54
ML 16-27-43
