Trojans fall in girls, boys hoops; WHS wrestlers edged

Host Luverne handed the Worthington Trojans boys basketball team just its fourth loss of the year Thursday night as the Cardinals defeated WHS 75-64.

Luverne broke out to a 32-18 halftime lead, and Trojans head coach Clint Meyer explained that the Cardinals changed their defensive looks frequently in the first half and got his team out of its rhythm. Meyer said his team also wasn’t as aggressive as it needed to be and also committed too many turnovers.

Worthington narrowed the deficit to seven in the second half but got no closer, and Luverne had a run of 10 consecutive made free throws down the stretch. For the Trojans, now 17-4, Zach Hayenga had 14 points, Abagotte Opiew 12 points, and Kaleb Knothe and Marenono Opiew 11 points apiece. Luverne improved to 12-10.

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The Luverne Cardinals came out on fire in the second half and topped the Worthington Trojans 76-39 in a girls basketball game in the WHS gym.

Luverne led 31-25 at the half and came out of the break on a 26-3 surge, including a 16-0 run. Christina Wagner had 17 points for the Cardinals, Kira John added 14 points and Elizabeth Wagner had 13.

For the Trojans, Tarren Spartz had nine points and nine rebounds and Aisha Zeidi had eight points. It was the last home game for seniors Spartz, Zeidi and Ellie Weg. Senior Karissa Bickett is also on the roster but is injured. Worthington is now 4-21 on the season.

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In high school wrestling, Worthington’s dual meet season came to an end as it lost 36-35 in a first-round Section 3AA match to Windom-Mountain Lake. Oscar Galvez won by fall at 126 pounds, as did Evan Neuberger at 182. Alex Galvez won by major decision at 113, Ethan Meyer by major decision at 138, and Dalton Larson by decision at 120. Worthington, though, was forced to forfeit four of its matches.

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In area girls basketball Thursday night, it was:

Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 66, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 28

Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 71, Yellow Medicine East 61

Edgerton 71, Red Rock Central 20

Southwest Minnesota Christian 74, Adrian-Ellsworth 38

Hills-Beaver Creek 55, Westbrook-Walnut Grove 51

Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s 76, Martin County West 54

Pipestone Area 71, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 51

Windom 85, Minnesota Valley Lutheran 56

In boys basketball:

Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 63, Martin County West 50

Red Rock Central 61, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 57

Lakeview 58, Westbrook-Walnut Grove 54

Redwood Valley 68, Fairmont 64

Jackson County Central 69, Pipestone Area 60

New Ulm 73, Marshall 67 (OT)

Central Lyon 85, Boyden-Hull 61

Western Christian 81, Cherokee 33

West Lyon 69, Okoboji 43

Remsen St. Mary’s 58, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 45

LeMars Gehlen 53, George-Little Rock 41

In boys hockey:

Luverne 5, Windom Area 3

Minnesota River 5, Fairmont 1