Trojan boys basketball team hangs tough against Spirit Lake in 80-74 setback

The Worthington Trojans boys basketball team went toe-to-toe with visiting Spirit Lake Tuesday night, but the Indians made a few more plays than the Trojans down the stretch and took a hard-earned 80-74 victory over WHS.

Worthington, which entered the game with a 2-14 record, came out undeterred against the 12-3 Indians, taking a 12-2 lead and holding Spirit Lake without a field goal for nearly six and half minutes. The Indians went on a 10-0 run following a timeout to knot the score at 12-apiece, but the teams played most evenly for the rest of the half, which ended with Spirit Lake ahead 34-29.

Worthington was extremely sharp from behind the 3-point line for most of the second half, and eventually went up 67-61 before the Indians began to gradually rally. In the end, Dylan Stecker's 26 points -- along with Wesley Walz's 20 and Ethan Stecker's 18 — were too much for the Trojans to overcome.

WHS got 19 points from Jacari Swinea, and Welbaka Morke played a strong game at the point guard spot with 13. Isaiah Schroeder and Caleb Meyer also chipped in with 10 points apiece. 

In a girls game that proceeded the boys matchup, Spirit Lake improved to 12-5 on the season by defeating the one-win Trojans 77-28. Claire Turner paced the Indians with 22 points, with 18 of those coming in the first half. Jayden Spartz had 10 points for Worthington; Grace Barber was next with eight.

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It was a tough night for Worthington High School's hockey teams Tuesday evening as both the girls and boys squad were shut out by visiting Luverne.

In the boys game, Benjamin Hartquist, Colton Haubrich, Landyn Lais and Jaxon Lais all scored two goals apiece as the Cardinals blanked the Trojans 11-0. Worthington managed 10 shots on net compared to 41 for Luverne. The Cardinals improved to 16-2 with the victory, while WHS is now 6-15.

In the girls matchup, Luverne shut out Worthington 8-0. Tenley Behr had a hat trick for the Cardinals, now 16-2 on the season, and Luverne peppered Trojan goalkeeper Macie Mahlberg with 52 shots. WHS, which got five shots in the game, fell to 4-16-1.

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In high school wrestling Tuesday, the Trojans traveled to Minneota for a triangular meet.

In their match with Minneota, WHS was defeated 60-8. The Trojans' points came from Kian Ling, who won an 11-4 decision at 121 pounds, and Miguel Moreno, who was victorious by technical fall at 139.

Results for Worthington's other match against Dawson-Boyd-Lac Qui Parle-Montevideo United weren't immediately available.

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In area boys hockey Tuesday night, it was:

Faribault 6, Fairmont 1

In area boys basketball Tuesday night:

Red Rock Central 64, Heron Lake-Okabena 53

Adrian-Ellsworth 64, Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 53

Hills-Beaver Creek 81, Murray County Central 47

Southwest Minnesota Christian 83, Westbrook-Walnut Grove 50

Jackson County Central 65, Pipestone Area 40

Brandon Valley, S.D. 65, Marshall 60

Unity Christian 68, Sheldon 28

West Lyon 77, Boyden-Hull 38

Central Lyon 63, Sioux Center 54

Rock Valley 60, Okoboji 52

MOC-Floyd Valley 85, Sibley-Ocheyedan 35

Harris-Lake Park 49, George-Little Rock 44

In area girls basketball Tuesday night, it was:

Windom 88, Murray County Central 50

Southwest Minnesota Christian 68, Luverne 56

Minneota 65, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 50

Jackson County Central 80, Pipestone Area 58

Fairmont 61, Belle Plaine 44

Unity Christian 72, Sheldon 12

West Lyon 65, Boyden-Hull 37

Sioux Center 53, Central Lyon 50

George-Little Rock 39, Harris-Lake Park 38

MOC-Floyd Valley 54, Western Christian 39