The Worthington Trojans girls basketball team dropped its third consecutive game Tuesday night, as Western Christian of Hull, Iowa came on strong in the second half to defeat the Trojans 76-63 in the WHS gymnasium.
The Trojans, now 6-4 on the season, led 37-33 at halftime, but the Wolfpack played strongly in the second half to win going away. For WHS, Tarren Spartz had a strong offensive game with 22 points, and Olivia Hayenga added 18 points and Ellie Weg 11.
Western Christian, which improved to 3-5 on the season, was led by Stella Winterfeld’s 22 points. Lydia Van Kley contributed 17 points, and Shayla VanBeek had 14 points.
In boys action, the Trojans – who have lost three games by two points and one game by one point thus far this season – was no match for Western Christian, as the visiting Wolfpack rolled to a 94-44 triumph. Western Christian, now 7-2, established its dominance early, led by 35 at the break and coasted in the second half. The Wolfpack won a state championship in the 2020-2021 season.
The lone highlight individually for WHS was freshman guard Jacari Swinea, who scored a game-high 24 points on the night. He was the lone Trojan player in double figures; Mak Lia was next with seven points.
Western Christian, meanwhile, had three players score in double figures. Wyatt Gulker had 19 points, Ty Van Essen 12 and Chandler Pollema 11.
The Trojan boys will host Redwood Valley on Thursday night. The WHS girls, meanwhile, will play at Redwood Valley on Friday.
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Host Marshall broke a 1-all tie with a pair of third-period goals Tuesday night and the Tigers edged the Worthington Trojans 3-1 in a boys hockey game at the Red Baron Arena and Expo in Marshall.
Sean Nwaiga gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead at 3:43 of the second period with an unassisted goal, but the Trojans answered at 15:10 of the second when Blake Luinenburg scored on a power play. Zach Kramer, though, would score on a pass from Talan Plante at 10:41 of the third period to put Marshall ahead, and Braxton Meyer tacked on an insurance goal at 16:02 on an assist from Gavin Peterson to close out the scoring.
Marshall outshot Worthington, 35-22, In the game. With the loss, the Trojans are now 6-4 on the season.
In girls hockey, it was the Tigers taking care of Worthington 6-0 in Marshall. Leah Schaefer had a pair of goals for Marshall, as did Regan Loft. Tessa Gannott contributed two assists.
The Tigers outshot the Trojans in the game, 37-20. Worthington is now 2-12 this winter.
The Trojan girls will face Fairmont at 7 p.m. Thursday in a game to be broadcast on 104.3 The Bridge. The boys, meanwhile, will play in Fairmont.
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In other high school action Tuesday night:
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Edgerton 53, Adrian-Ellsworth 24
Southwest Minnesota Christian 68, Westbrook-Walnut Grove 44
Red Rock Central 51, Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 41
Pipestone Area 58, Murray County Central 48
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 53, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 13
Marshall 41, Luverne 33
Fairmont 74, Jackson County Central 70 (OT)
Sheldon 56, Rock Valley 54
Central Lyon 76, George-Little Rock 36
Sioux Center 65, Okoboji 36
West Lyon 56, Sibley-Ocheyedan 40
MMCRU 60, Harris-Lake Park 24
Spirit Lake 49, Pocahontas 16
BOYS BASKETBALL
Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 59, ML-GHEC-T 45
Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 85, Canby 71
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 59, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 50
Marshall 50, Luverne 46
Fairmont 71, Jackson County Central 70
Rock Valley 62, Sheldon 19
Central Lyon 73, George-Little Rock 51
Okoboji 70, Sioux Center 65
West Lyon 65, Sibley-Ocheyedan 50
Harris-Lake Park 55, MMCRU 42
Pocahontas 48, Spirit Lake 47
BOYS HOCKEY
Luverne 8, Fairmont 3
