The Minnesota West women’s and men’s basketball teams pulled off a sweep of Anoka-Ramsey on Saturday afternoon at the Center for Health and Wellness, as the Lady Jays picked up a 21-point win and the Bluejays outlasted the Golden Rams in overtime.
In the women’s game -- a battle between the third- and fourth-ranked teams nationally -- the Lady Jays led 26-22 at halftime and remained in a tight battle until the later stages of the third quarter. Then Hatttie DeVries was fouled and Anoka-Ramsey was also whistled for a technical foul. DeVries made her free throw, Olivia Hayenga made two technical free throws and Skylla Peterson nailed a 3 on the ensuing possession, and suddenly a six-point lead was a 14-point advantage. The Golden Rams never truly recovered from there, with Minnesota West winning 73-52.
Hayenga finished with 22 points, 14 rebounds and six assists to lead the fourth-ranked Lady Jays; Anoka-Ramsey entered the game ranked third. Dasia Potter made five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points. Peterson contributed 15 points and nine rebounds, and DeVries chipped in with 13.
In the men’s game, the Bluejays came out in the second half and promptly went on a 16-2 surge to go up by a dozen points. The Golden Rams, though, fought back and then had an opportunity to win in regulation when Chaz Franklin was fouled on a 3-point field goal attempt with .4 seconds to go. Franklin made the first two and missed the third, forcing overtime.
Teddy Collins Jr. was then hot for Minnesota West to start overtime, making a pair of 3-pointers in the first minute. Anoka-Ramsey hung tough, but the Bluejays built some breathing room in the final minute and came away with an 89-81 triumph.
Paul Fairley Jr. scored 19 of his 21 points in the second for Minnesota West. Karasharo Ojulo added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Bluejays, Collins had 20 as well and Henry Counsel chipped in with 11. Minnesota West is now 2-7 in South Division play and 4-18 overall.
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In boys hockey Saturday afternoon, Easton Newman had two goals and an assist for the second straight game and WHS captured a 5-1 triumph over visiting Breckenridge/Wahpeton.
Ian Bumgardner’s goal 6:49 into the first period on a pass from Caden Van Briesen made it 1-0 Worthington, and Newman scored later in the period for a 2-0 edge. Anthony Jimenez got a shorthanded goal on a feed from Newman to make it 3-0 at the 5:35 mark of the second period.
After Breckenridge/Wahpeton scored, Jimenez got a second goal for the Trojans on assists from Van Briesen and Ayden Stugelmeyer. Spenser Nickel got the final goal on another Van Briesen assist.
Brody Pederson was in the net for WHS and stopped 14 shots.
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In high school basketball Friday night, WHS and New Ulm played an intense back-and-forth game in the Trojans’ gym, with the Eagles ultimately outlasting Worthington 75-67.
New Ulm led 40-39 at the half after being up by as many as six. The Trojans then went up by six, 46-40, but New Ulm soon rallied behind the play of Colton Benson, who scored 38 points on the night. The Trojans had opportunities in the closing minutes, but it was New Ulm holding on in the first meeting between the teams this season.
Kaleb Knothe led WHS with 20 points, with 16 of those coming in the opening half. Jacari Swinea contributed 13 points for the Trojans, and Andrew Mulder and Welbaka Morke had 10 apiece.
On Saturday afternoon, the Worthington boys were back on the court in a non-league matchup against St. Thomas More of South Dakota and were defeated 63-50 in a game at the Pentagon in Sioux Falls. The Trojans are 9-8 on the season.
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In girls basketball Friday, host New Ulm connected on 17 3-point field goals as the Eagles beat Worthington 96-69. Pam Gora topped the Trojans in scoring with 16 points. Jayden Spartz added 12 and Grace Barber 11.
The WHS girls were then in action on Saturday against St. Thomas More at the Sioux Falls Pentagon and were beaten 48-16. Worthington is now 4-14 this winter.
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In girls hockey Friday night, five different Marshall players had goals as the Tigers blanked the Trojans 5-0 at the Worthington Ice Arena. The game concluded the regular season for WHS, which will now play a sectional game Thursday night.
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In area girls basketball play Saturday, it was:
Pipestone Area 71, Lac Qui Parle Valley 44
Adrian-Ellsworth 70, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 68
Marshall 65, Sioux Falls Roosevelt 42
MOC Floyd Valley 84, Sheldon 25
In area boys basketball Saturday:
Jackson County Central at St. James Area
Sioux Falls Roosevelt 56, Marshall 38
MOC Floyd Valley 78, Sheldon 36
In area girls hockey Saturday:
Luverne 6, Minnesota River 2
In area boys hockey Saturday:
Marshall 7, Tartan 4
In area girls basketball Friday night, it was:
Edgerton 72, Red Rock Central 42
Martin County West 60, Alden-Conger-Glenville-Emmons 36
Luverne 66, St. James Area 55
Redwood Valley 57, Pipestone Area 36
Jackson County Central 79, Windom 64
St. Peter 60, Marshall 49
Rock Valley 54, Sheldon 15
Okoboji 56, Boyden-Hull 43
George-Little Rock 60, Harris-Lake Park 54
E-LC 62, Spirit Lake 40
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 63, Trinity Christian 48
In area boys basketball Friday:
Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 67, Murray County Central 58
Southwest Minnesota Christian 93, Edgerton 53
Westbrook-Walnut Grove 73, Adrian-Ellsworth 57
Hills-Beaver Creek 65, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 53
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 77, Red Rock Central 39
Luverne 81, St. James Area 69
Redwood Valley 91, Pipestone Area 67
Marshall 66, St. Peter 60
Rock Valley 59, Sheldon 47
Boyden-Hull 66, Okoboji 42
Central Lyon 76, Sibley-Ocheyedan 43George-Little Rock 70, Harris-Lake Park 41
E-LC 53, Spirit Lake 52
Trinity Christian 71, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 50
In boys hockey:
New Ulm 9, Windom Area 0
