The Worthington Trojans basketball team took control early and had five players score in double figures Tuesday night in a 90-57 home triumph over Jackson County Central.
It was Abagotte Opiew who was hot early for Worthington as he scored 13 of the Trojans’ first 16 points. His teammates, though, spread out the scoring the rest of the way. Jacari Swinea finished with 19 points to lead WHS offensively, and Kaleb Knothe added 16 as the Trojans excelled and moving the ball up the floor quickly and scoring underneath. Worthington had a 47-22 advantage at halftime and led by as many as 36 points in the second half.
Also contributing for the Trojans were Marenono Opiew with 14 points and Nasim Zeidi with 12. WHS has now won seven in a row and has a 12-2 record heading into a key showdown at New Ulm on Thursday night.
Travis Rogotzke had 10 points for Jackson County Central, which dropped to 8-7 on the season.
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The Trojan girls, meanwhile, traveled to Jackson and lost a tough one to the Huskies, 82-76. Jackson County Central led 48-38 at halftime, but Worthington limited the Huskies to 34 points in the second half.
It was Tarren Spartz leading the way for WHS with 23 points and 11 rebounds. New Gora contributed 16 points and also had three steals. Aisha Zeidi had 15 points, and Madison Beckmann added 10 points and six assists.
The Trojans are now 4-13 overall. They’ll host New Ulm on Friday night.
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The Worthington Trojans gymnastics team scored a team total of 141.025 points as they captured a home triangular meet against Blue Earth and Marshall.
Trojan gymnasts dominated the top finishers. In the all-around, it was Hali Bullerman taking first with a composite score of 36.525, followed by teammates Cristy Banegas in second and Addison Gerber in third. Bullerman finished first on the vault with a score of 9.5, first on the bars with an 8.9 and first on the floor with a 9.325.
Banegas was third on the vault, bars and beam for the Trojans. Gerber was tied for second on the bean and second on the floor. Kelsey Soleta placed second on the vault for WHS, while Olivia Barber was second on the bars and tied for third on the floor.
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The Worthington Trojans girls hockey team was on the road Tuesday night at Mankato West and was defeated 10-5.
An unassisted first-period goal from Marin Pederson and a goal from Riley Nickel on an assist from Lauren Nelson gave the Trojans a 2-0 lead. Mankato West, however, scored the first five goals of the second period before another unassisted Pederson tally for Worthington. The Trojans also got third-period goals from Madeline Petersen as well as a hat-trick-completing score from Pederson.
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In boys hockey, Worthington played at Austin and was beaten by a score of 11-1. Ian Bumgardner had the lone Trojan goal on assists from Easton Newman and Anthony Jimenez.
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In other area girls basketball Tuesday night, it was:
Dell Rapids St. Mary, S.D. 69, Hills-Beaver Creek 46
Southwest Minnesota Christian 72, Edgerton 47
Alden-Conger-Glenville-Emmons 41, Martin County West 35
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 60, Canby 49
Cedar Mountain 51, Red Rock Central 37
St. James Area 69, Windom 65
Marshall 49, Willmar 38
George-Little Rock 50, Sheldon 47
West Lyon 64, Boyden-Hull 44
Central Lyon 53, Sioux Center 46
Sibley-Ocheyedan 86, MOC-Floyd Valley 39
Okoboji 62, Rock Valley 55
In boys basketball:
Martin County West 61, Luverne 56 (OT)
Adrian-Ellsworth 77, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 66
Southwest Minnesota Christian 66, Edgerton 30
Westbrook-Walnut Grove 57, Red Rock Central 41
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 62, Minneota 58
Murray County Central at Hills-Beaver Creek
Windom 107, St. James Area 83
Marshall 67, Fairmont 49
George-Little Rock 53, Sheldon 50
West Lyon 55, Boyden-Hull 44
Central Lyon 86, Sioux Center 53
MOC-Floyd Valley 86, Sibley-Ocheyedan 46
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 68, Harris-Lake Park 65
In girls hockey:
Minnesota River 3, Fairmont 0
In boys hockey:
Rochester John Marshall 3, Windom Area 2 (OT)
Marshall 8, Fairmont 2
Luverne 7, Redwood Valley 0
