The Minnesota West men’s basketball team split a pair of games over the weekend, losing Friday evening before bouncing back for a win Saturday afternoon.
Elijah Williams scored 20 points and Bie Ruei added 14 Saturday as the Bluejays defeated Southwestern Community College 68-65. Also scoring in double figures for Minnesota West were Kong Neyail, who had 11 points, and Steve Ndumbe, who had 10. Neyail led the team in rebounding with eight boards while Ndumbe added seven. For visiting Southwestern Community College – out of Creston, Iowa – Devlin Tomlinson tallied a game-best 31 points while contributing a team-high seven rebounds.
On Friday night, the Bluejays led 35-29 over Iowa Central Community College at halftime but were outscored by 14 points in the second half and lost 75-67. Ruei had a strong game offensively for Minnesota West as he scored 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including 4-of-5 on 3-pointers. Neyail chipped in with 15 points and a team-leading four assists. Williams had 13 points and 11 rebounds to top the Bluejays in that department.
Kevin Taylor had 26 points and 15 rebounds to lead Iowa Central. Following the two weekend games, Minnesota West now has a record of 5-9 on the season. Both the men’s and women’s teams play at Riverland on Wednesday.
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The Minnesota West Lady Jays grinded out a win Saturday afternoon against Iowa Central Community College, as Olivia Hayenga shook off a tough Thursday night game to score 26 points as the Jays beat the Tritons 62-50.
Hayenga also led Minnesota West in rebounds with 12 and steals with six as the Lady Jays moved to 14-1 on the season. The Lady Jays didn’t shoot the basketball particularly well, as they made just 32.8% of their shots, but they limited Iowa Central just 24.3% marksmanship on field goals while also forcing 31 turnovers.
Tia Murray added 11 points for Minnesota West and Brooklyn Scheitel-Taylor had eight assists for the Jays, who have now won 10 straight. The Bluejay women and men both play at Riverland on Wednesday.
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In high school girls basketball on Friday night, it was Aberdeen Central defeating Worthington 44-37 in a game at the Pentagon in Sioux Falls.
Tarren Spartz paced the Trojans offensively with 14 points while Madison Beckmann was next with eight. Ellie Weg snared a team-best nine rebounds for WHS, which forced 30 Aberdeen Central turnovers but committed 32 of their own.
The Trojans, now 1-6, are scheduled to play a girls-boys doubleheader Tuesday night at Western Christian in Hull, Iowa.
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In area girls basketball Friday, it was:
Adrian-Ellsworth 68, Ortonville 34
In area boys basketball Friday:
Minneota 76, Hills-Beaver Creek 68
Murray County Central 55, Renville County West 41
Red Rock Central 73, Ortonville 52
Southwest Minnesota Christian 79, Springfield 62
Jackson County Central 56, Canby 51
Montevideo 60, Pipestone Area 58
In girls hockey Friday:
Fairmont 4, Windom Area 3
In boys hockey Friday:
Albert Lea 6, Luverne 3
