WHS boys defeated in home hoops regular-season finale

The Worthington Trojans boys basketball team, playing their final home game of the regular season on Thursday night, honored their seniors before tipoff, then were beaten by Pipestone Area 68-48.

The Trojans got down by 11 early in the first half before closing the gap to 24-18, but the Arrows went on a run and moved ahead by as many as 16. Welbaka Morke's 3-pointer for WHS 10 seconds before halftime made it a 34-21 contest at the break.

The Trojans were able to get within eight points of Pipestone Area on multiple occasions in the early stages of the second half, but the Arrows used a 9-0 surge to go up by 17 and didn't look back from there.

Jacari Swinea had 18 points to lead Worthington and Morke added 12. The Arrows' Tagon Woelber topped all players with 21 points.

The Trojans, now 5-19, play their last game of the regular season on Tuesday at Mankato West.

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Visiting Dakota County Technical College outscored Minnesota West 43-33 in the second half to win a Wednesday night non-conference men's basketball game against the Bluejays, 77-67.

Zackery Rygg led Minnesota West, which has now dropped three straight, with 20 points, and Calvin Flood chipped in with 14. Rebounding was difficult for the Bluejays as Dakota County won the battle of the boards 43-27. Minnesota West also dressed just eight players for the matchup; they'll next play Ridgewater at 3 p.m. on Saturday following the Lady Jays-Warriors game at 1 p.m.

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In the state Class A girls hockey tournament, Marshall won a consolation-round game in overtime against Fergus Falls, 3-2. The Tigers had been blanked on Wednesday by Warroad, 4-0, in a quarterfinal matchup.

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In Section 3A boys hockey Thursday night, it was:

Mankato West 14, Fairmont 0

New Ulm 5, Marshall 3

Luverne 9, Redwood Valley 0

In Section 3A girls basketball Thursday:

Murray County Central 80, Red Rock Central 56

Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 51, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 42

In area boys basketball Thursday:

Martin County West 69, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop 67

Windom 104, Edgerton 58

Luverne 91, Minneota 60

Westbrook-Walnut Grove 69, Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 50

Fairmont 74, Belle Plaine 61

Spirit Lake 80, Belmond-Klemme 39

Western Christian 85, Rock Valley 65

Unity Christian 65, Okoboji 45