WHS boys fall in hockey playoffs; Trojan girls get a hoops victory

The Worthington Trojans boys hockey team had its season come to an end Tuesday night as it was defeated in a first-round Section 3A Tournament game, 4-3. by visiting Fairmont.

The Cardinals picked up just their second win of the season while knocking the Trojans out of the playoffs for the season year in a row. WHS had beaten Fairmont in the two previous meetings between the teams this winter.

On Tuesday night, Dominic Pavelko had a hat trick for Worthington, but it wasn't quite enough.

Pavelko got the Trojans off to a good start when he scored on a power play 2:23 into the game on assists from Anthony Jimenez and Spenser Nickel. That 1-0 edge remained until the 14:08 mark of the first period, when Fairmont tied things up.

The goals came fast and furious to start the second period. Pavelko put

Worthington up 2-1 just 46 seconds into the period when he got his second goal of the night on a pass from Jimenez. The Cardinals tied the score just 41 seconds later, but WHS grabbed a 3-2 edge when Pavelko tallied another goal on feeds from Mason Ommen and Vincent Georgi with 1:51 elapsed in the second. It was soon 3-3 a little more than a minute later, and the Cardinals scored with just 16 seconds left before the second intermission to take their final lead.

The Trojans controlled a majority of the play in the third, but couldn't get the equalizer. WHS outshot Fairmont 35-24 for the game. with Trojan goalie Tyson Petersen stopping 20 shots. Worthington finishes its season at 7-19.

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The Worthington High School girls basketball team snapped a long losing streak Tuesday night as it won its first game in two and a half months, topping host Blue Earth Area 54-51.

The Trojans picked up their second victory over the season over the winless Bucs and never trailed during the game. Senior Saige Scheepstra picked up seven early points as WHS jumped out to an 11-2 advantage, and after Blue Earth Area pulled within two, the Trojans finished out the first half with a three-point play from Paula Dykstra and a bucket from Jayden Spartz for a 26-18 lead at the break.

Spartz got the first hoop of the second half to give Worthington its largest edge at

10 points, but the Bucs hung around. Senior Grace Barber wound up scoring five of the Trojans' last eight points, including the final three on free throws. 

Spartz topped the Trojans offensively with 24 points on the night, and Scheepstra added 13. The game was the last one for WHS in the regular season; they'll now await the pairings for sectionals.

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In boys basketball Tuesday night, visiting Blue Earth beat Worthington 81-72. The Trojans next play host to Pipestone Area on Thursday night.

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In another Section 3A boys hockey game Tuesday night, it was:

Redwood Valley 8, Windom 2

In area boys basketball Tuesday night:

Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 76, Red Rock Central 47

Adrian-Ellsworth 65, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 51

Southwest Minnesota Christian 69, Murray County Central 58

Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 79, Renville County West 59

Hills-Beaver Creek 72, Edgerton 47

Springfield 75, Windom 61

Luverne 59, Fairmont 42

In area girls basketball Tuesday night:

Windom 92, Springfield 62

Fairmont 66, Luverne 41

Harris-Lake Park 53, George-Little Rock 47 (OT)

Central Lyon 70, Emmetsburg 67 OT

West Lyon 59, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 32