The Mankato East Cougars exploded for 57 first-half points and limited the Worthington Trojans to just two field goals in the opening 18 minutes on their way to a dominating 88-36 victory Wednesday night in a Section 2AAA girls basketball tournament quarterfinal.
The Cougars’ Macy Birkholz had 24 points in the first half and teammate Ellie Edberg had 20 as the Cougars were up 57-16 at the break. Edberg finished with 35 points, while Birkholz had 29.
The Trojans trailed 9-5 following a close-range bucket from Regan Schaefer, but Mankato East then went on a 19-0 run. The second half was only marginally better for the Trojans, who had six seniors – starters Madison Beckmann, Schaefer, New Gora, Pham Gora and Janessa Hamann, along with Florence Balash – playing in their final WHS basketball game.
It was junior Grace Barber leading the Trojans in scoring with eight points, and Jayden Spartz was next with six. Worthington finished the season with an 8-19 record.
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The South Subsection of the Section 3AA boys basketball tournament gets underway Saturday. Among the scheduled games are No. 7 St. James Area at second-seeded Jackson County Central, No. 5 Windom at No. 3 Pipestone and No. 5 Luverne at No. 4 Fairmont.
Top-seeded Redwood Valley has a first-round bye. Semifinals will be March 7 at sites to be determined, and the finals on March 9 at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. The sectional final will be March 14 at SMSU.
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In South Subsection 3A boys basketball, Super Saturday is this weekend at Worthington High School. Top-seeded Hills-Beaver Creek will play either Edgerton or Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda at 11 a.m., No. 5 Murray County Central plays No. 4 Tracy-Milroy-Balaton at 12:30 p.m., second-seeded Southwest Minnesota Christian takes on either Westbrook-Walnut Grove or Adrian-Ellsworth at 2:30 and No. 6 Red Rock Central meets No. 3 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at 4.
The subsection semifinals will be March 7 at Worthington High School, and the finals Saturday at SMSU. The sectional final game is set for March 14 at SMSU.
