The Minnesota West men's basketball team won both Friday night and Saturday afternoon at the Center for Health and Wellness, while the women earned a split.
On Friday night, the Bluejays held a seven-point advantage at halftime and then got on a roll in the second half to earn an 81-55 triumph over Itasca. Minnesota West shot 52% from the floor on the night and committed just eight turnovers.
The Bluejays had four players score in double figures, led by Keion Irvin's 21 points and Zackery Rigg's 20. Deondre Wallace added 14 points off the bench and Zach Hayenga added 10. Hayenga and Henry Counsel paced the rebounding effort with six boards each.
The Minnesota West men improved to 12-2 on Saturday by getting past Northland 71-65. The Pioneers erased an 11-point second half deficit, but the Bluejays held on with another 52% shooting effort from the field. Hayenga had 23 points and six rebounds in the win, and Irvin contributed 19 points. Karasharo Ojullo registered team highs of seven rebounds and five assists.
The Lady Jays, meanwhile, won their Friday evening matchup, overcoming a slow start by outscoring Itasca 28-3 in the third quarter en route to a 75-32 triumph. Casey Miller led the way offensively with 14 points, Ava Parrish had 13 and Maddie Kamm and Sadie Krahling chipped in with 10 each. Jayda Hellewell had nine rebounds and Rhea Tucker picked up seven steals. Itasca turned the ball over 42 times.
On Saturday, No. 2-ranked Northland was able to defeat No. 4 Minnesota West 60-45 as the Lady Jays shot just 26% from the floor and turned the ball over 30 times. Krahling had 20 points and Kamm 11; Katrina Schutz led the squad with eight rebounds. The Minnesota West women are now 6-6.
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Eighteen wrestling teams from the region competed Saturday at the Pizza Ranch tournament hosted by Jackson County Central.
From Worthington High School, Sam Dagel placed fifth at 107 pounds and Kian Ling sixth at 127. JCC had multiple placers, including: Kayden Eller, first at 121 pounds; Kyler Thier. second at 127; Dallas Gossen, third at 139; Mathias Liepold, fourth at 107; Isaac Rodriguez, fourth at 133; Jack Mix, fourth at 215; Carson Kolander, fifth at 172; Ryan Haley, fifth at 189; and Braeden Tufvessen, sixth at 145.
For Fulda/Murray County Central: Carson Klein was second at 215 pounds; Isaiah Wolske, fourth at 189; Kaston Clarke was fifth at 114, Quintin Lewis fifth at 160. and Colby Kesterloot, fifth at 285. For Adrian Area, Charger Erlandson placed second at 145 pounds; Jesse Bullerman third at 172, Jackson Jenniges fourth at 152 and Caleb Wolf sixth at 160.
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Marshall's boys basketball team scored the first 28 points of the game against visiting Worthington on Friday night and went to take a 73-34 win. The Trojans' girls team took on Marshall at WHS and ended up on the short end of a 79-35 score. The Tiger girls are 7-0 and ranked second in the state in Class 3A.
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In girls hockey, host Minnesota River outshot Worthington 41-15 and came away with a 7-0 triumph over the Trojans.
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In area boys basketball Saturday, it was:
Lakeview 64, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 45
Minneota 79, Westbrook-Walnut Grove 64
Fairmont 69, Martin County West 31
Montevideo 75, Luverne 60
In area girls basketball Saturday:
Madelia 62, Red Rock Central 42
Fairmont 42, Martin County West 41
Lakeview at Westbrook-Walnut Grove
Montevideo 68, Luverne 46
Marshall 79, Hill-Murray 56
West Lyon 50, George-Little Rock 42
Estherville-Lincoln Central 71, Okoboji 38
In area boys hockey Saturday:
Austin 8, Fairmont 0
Waseca 7, Marshall 2
In area girls hockey Saturday:
Marshall 6, South Central 0
Luverne 5, Mankato East 2
Fairmont 8, Austin 0
Visitation 6, Windom 0
In area boys basketball Friday night, it was:
Westbrook-Walnut Grove, Lakeview 61
Hills-Beaver Creek 70, Red Rock Central 38
Murray County Central 71, Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 53
Southwest Minnesota Christian 84, Edgerton 58
Minneota 76, Heron Lake-Okabena 44
Jackson County Central 84, Tri-City United 34
Redwood Valley 84, Luverne 77
Windom 80, Pipestone Area 66
Unity Christian 61, Sheldon 32
West Lyon 75, Boyden-Hull 53
Sioux Center 73, Central Lyon 32
Western Christian 72, Heritage Christian 50
In area girls basketball Friday night:
Yellow Medicine East 68, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 37
Hills-Beaver Creek 61, Southwest Minnesota Christian 54
Windom 80, Pipestone Area 72
Redwood Valley 60, Luverne 33
Tri-City United 61, Jackson County Central 51
Unity Christian 65, Sheldon 11
West Lyon 61, Boyden-Hull 25
Central Lyon 59, Sioux Center 54
Rock Valley 96, Okoboji 52
Harris-Lake Park 48, Akron-Westfield 36
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 65, Gehlen Catholic 49
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