The Worthington Trojans boys basketball team made a statement of sorts Friday night as they topped up visiting New Ulm 61-54 to improve to 8-2 on the year.
New Ulm, which entered the game with a 9-2 record, trailed by as many as eight points early in the second half before rallying to take a six-point edge. The Trojans then bounced back themselves to take a narrow lead and were up by two with less than 25 seconds remaining when junior Kaleb Knothe nailed a 3-pointer to essentially ice the game.
Knothe had 20 points to lead WHS offensively. Senior Mikelue Walu was next with 10 points, including a huge 3-pointer of his own with about two and a half minutes left. New Ulm’s Colton Benson topped all scorers with 26 points.
Next up for the Trojans is a home matchup against Fairmont on Tuesday.
**
The WHS girls hockey team went 0-2 over the weekend. On Friday night, the Trojans were defeated at home by Marshall 8-1. Kalyn DeVlieger and Kendall Beernaert each had two goals for the Tigers; Megan Dykstra had the lone Trojans’ score. On Saturday, the Trojans were defeated at Minnesota River 7-0.
The Worthington boys, meanwhile, were beaten 7-1 on Saturday at Minnesota River.
**
In girls basketball Saturday, the Trojans were beaten on the road by Kasson-Mantorville 73-38.
The Trojans endured a tough shooting night as a result of K-M’s defense. New Gora had 16 points to pace WHS offensively. Janessa Hamann had 10 points and seven rebounds. The Trojans are 2-9.
**
The Worthington Trojans gymnastics team placed second at the Sweetheart Invitational meet hosted by Jackson County Central on Saturday.
It was New Prague coming out on top in the seven-team meet with a total score of 145.425. Worthington had 141.5; Luverne was third.
For WHS, Hali Bullerman took second in the all-around competition with 36.5 points. Cristy Banegas was fourth in the all-around for the Trojans and Olivia Barber fifth.
Top-five finishes for Worthington in individual events came from Bullerman, third on the floor, fourth on the vault and fifth on the bars; Addison Gerber, second on the floor; Banegas, fifth on the vault; and Barber, fifth on the floor.
**
Jackson County Central dominated the Big South Wrestling Tournament on Saturday, taking first out of 13 teams with 250.5 points. Worthington, meanwhile, was ninth with 50 points.
Kayden Eller at 106 pounds, Nolan Ambrose at 132, Thomas Freking at 138, Logan Butzon at 145, Isaiah Rodriguez at 152 and Caleb Vancura at 220 all won individually for JCC. The highest placers at the meet for the Trojans were: Chase Byrne, fourth at 152; Mason Schutz, fourth at 195; Alex Galvez, sixth at 106; and Ethan Meyer, sixth at 132.
In area girls basketball Saturday, it was:
White River, S.D. 62, Hills-Beaver Creek 55
Southwest Minnesota Christian 66, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 14
Edgerton 67, Murray County Central 40
Wabasso 54, Red Rock Central 36
Mankato East 58, Marshall 40
Hamlin 62, West Lyon 38
Gehlen 52, Harris-Lake Park 49
In boys basketball Saturday:
Hills-Beaver Creek 58, Oldham-Ramona/Rutland, S.D. 33
Red Rock Central 55, Wabasso 35
Sergeant Bluff-Luton 64, Jackson County Central 53
Luverne 60, Estelline-Hendricks, S.D. 50
DeSmet, S.D. 52, Pipestone Area 40
Mankato East 87, Marshall 63
Gehlen 63, Harris-Lake Park 42
Western Christian 65, Maranatha 55
In girls hockey Saturday:
Warroad 10, Luverne 0
In boys hockey Saturday:
Waseca 5, Luverne 4
Rochester Lourdes 3, Windom Area 2
In area girls basketball Friday night, it was:
Martin County West 51, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop 38
Dawson-Boyd 57, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 37
Westbrook-Walnut Grove 70, Madelia 32
Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 64. Nicollet 63
Pipestone Area 58, Redwood Valley 42
Luverne 79, St. James Area 50
Windom 59, Fairmont 50
Marshall 51, St. Peter 47
MOC Floyd Valley 69, Sheldon 43
Sibley-Ocheyedan 51, Boyden-Hull 26
Central Lyon 69, Okoboji 39
Western Christian 49, Sioux City North 38
West Lyon 52, Rock Valley 31
Sioux Center 63, George-Little Rock 44
MMCRU 55, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 45
E-LC 61, Spirit Lake 42
Remsen St. Mary’s 79, Harris-Lake Park 41
In boys basketball Friday:
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 77, Lac Qui Parle Valley 59
Mankato Loyola 42, Martin County West 39
Westbrook-Walnut Grove 63, Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 50
Murray County Central 72, Red Rock Central 38
Edgerton 76, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 65
Southwest Minnesota Christian 76, Hills-Beaver Creek 29
Luverne 74, St. James Area 65
Pipestone Area 73, Redwood Valley 48
Jackson County Central 61, Fairmont 56
Marshall 75, St. Peter 56
MOC Floyd Valley 73, Sheldon 32
Boyden-Hull 74, Sibley-Ocheyedan 43
Central Lyon 85, Okoboji 49
Sioux Center 65, George-Little Rock 51
MMCRU 44, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 40
Spirit Lake 50, E-LC 48
West Lyon 76, Rock Valley 41
Remsen St. Mary’s 46, Harris-Lake Park 35
In girls hockey Friday:
Luverne 8, Breckenridge-Wahpeton 1
New Ulm 7, Windom Area 1
