The WHS girls started quickly in their home basketball game Thursday night against Redwood Valley, but a trapping Cardinals defense resulted in a 12-0 run and the Trojans ultimately wound up on the short end of a 73-53 score.
Redwood Valley, which now has a 16-7 record, had 24 points from Kenzie Lundeen that came as a result of eight 3-pointers. Kendall Huhnerkoch contributed 21 for the Cardinals, who have won nine of their last 10.
Grace Barber was inserted into the Worthington starting lineup Thursday and she wound up leading the Trojans with 19 points. WHS trailed 42-25 at the half and didn’t get any closer than 12 of Redwood Valley during the second half. Jayden Spartz chipped in with nine points and Regan Schaefer had eight for WHS, now 5-15 on the season.
In the boys game, Redwood Valley got off to fast start on the visiting Trojans and went on to win 85-77. The Cardinals upped their record to 17-4, and Worthington is now 10-9.
WHS head coach Clint Meyer said his team dug itself a hole early and trailed 51-38 at the half. The Trojans were able to cut the deficit to five late in the second half, but the Cardinals nailed back-to-back 3-pointers – they had 13 in the game – to thwart the attempted rally.
Jacari Swinea’s 27 points led Worthington offensively. Andrew Mulder had 16 points, Zach Hayenga 15 and Kaleb Knothe 12.
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New Ulm’s Tristyn Wolner had a hat trick and an assist and Mya Hornick added two goals and two assists as host New Ulm blanked Worthiington in sectional girls hockey action Thursday night.
The Eagles outshot the Trojans 48-5 in the game and scored three goals in both the first and second periods and two more in the third. WHS, which loses just three seniors and had a roster this year with multiple players who were eighth-graders, had its season come to an end with a record of 0-23-1.
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Jackson County Central seniors Seth Stai and Jack Sadusky officially signed with Northwestern College this week.
Stai will be playing football as well as wrestling for the Red Raiders. Sadusky will play football as well and continue his soccer career at the next level after playing for Fairmont during high school.
Meanwhile, a JCC junior, Rylie Cother, announced her commitment to NCAA Division II Winona State University women’s basketball on Wednesday.
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Sibley-Ocheyedan will host Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Friday night in a Class 1A Boys Substate first-round basketball game. The winner will play Monday at North Linn.
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In area girls basketball Thursday night, it was:
Martin County West 68, Cleveland 35
Madelia 59, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 54
Windom 65, Murray County Central 41
West Lyon 56, Hills-Beaver Creek 34
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 59, Canby 38
Luverne 78, St. James Area 63
Marshall 80, Pipestone Area 39
In area boys basketball:
Southwest Minnesota Christian 78, Red Rock Central 43
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 82, Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 78 (OT)
Hills-Beaver Creek 57, Westbrook-Walnut Grove 50
Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 77, Adrian-Ellsworth 74 (OT)
Murray County Central 68, Edgerton 63
Pipestone Area 89, Windom 72
Luverne 80, St. James Area 45
Boyden-Hull 63, Sheldon 53
Spirit Lake 61, Emmetsburg 57
In area girls hockey:
Windom Area 4, Fairmont 1
