WHS boys hoops snaps slump with 15-point win over Sibley-Ocheyedan

The Worthington High School boys basketball team snapped a six-game losing skid, both starting and finishing strong in a 73-58 home victory over Sibley-Ocheyedan on Saturday afternoon.

The Trojans, now 3-12 on the season, ran out to a 25-4 lead on the Generals, but Sibley-Ocheyedan chipped away and got to within 11 before the half ended with a 30-17 WHS advantage.

The Generals began the second half with a surge and trimmed the deficit down to one on two occasions, the second time to 42-41. Worthington, though, rode hot shooting from Treyson Meinders in exploding for a 17-0 run at that point, and S-O would get no closer than 12 of the lead the rest of the way.

Meinders finished the game with 29 points and had 19 in the second half — 15 of them coming on 3-pointers. Isaiah Schroeder contributed 16 points for the Trojans. The Generals were led in scoring by Alex Kruger's 14 points; Gavin Stanton and Dawson Kreykes had 10 apiece. 

In a girls matchup that preceded the boys game, WHS led 34-31 at the break, but the Generals opened the second half with a 10-0 burst and hung on from there to edge the Trojans 72-67. Worthington lost its 13^th in a row and is now 2-14.

Hailey Gacke paced S-O with 18 points, Lucy Heitritter added 17 and Aleah Marco chipped in with 11. For the Trojans, Savannah Dale and Paula Dykstra each had 16 points and Kierra Reetz added 15 off the bench.

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The Worthington High School gymnastics team placed ninth Saturday at the Class A State True Team Meet in Big Lake.

Melrose Area won the meet -- which included the state's top 10-ranked teams -- with a total score of 177.825 points, which edged out Detroit Lakes and its total of 177.35. WHS finished with 166.075 points.

Lucy Thier was the highest placer for the Trojans on the day in three different categories. She was 12^th on the bars with a score of 8.775 and 26^th on the floor with a 9.0. Her cumulative score of 34.225 points placed her 16^th overall.

On the vault, Marley Phomsatry placed highest for Worthington, as her score of 8.85 put her in 27th. On the beam, Jada Milbrath scored an 8.15 and was 31st.

The Trojans will have a home meet on Tuesday night and face Windom.

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Multiple Worthington wrestlers competed Saturday in the Minnesota Ninth Grade and Younger Region 1 Boys Qualifier event in Jackson.

Individuals who placed were: Raylen Teerink, 1^st at 189 pounds; Ethan Nixon, third at 189; Jace Riemersma-Feit, third at 121; Bly Scott, third at 114; Preston Kumi, fourth at 172; Kian Ling, fourth at 145; Dyson Neugebauer, fourth at 107; and Juan Palma , eighth at 127.

Several wrestlers from schools around the region also competed at the meet. In the team totals, Jackson County Central was second, Worthington fourth, Adrian Area fifth and Fulda/Murray County Central 12th.

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In area girls basketball Friday night, it was:

St. James Area 81, Windom 67

Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 65, Ortonville 30

New Ulm Cathedral 52, Red Rock Central 39

Pipestone Area 78, Redwood Valley 21

Harris-Lake Park 35, Sheldon 27

Unity Christian 54, Okoboji 39

In area boys basketball Friday night, it was:

Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 65, Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 63

Murray County Central 55, Adrian-Ellsworth 52 (OT)

Hills-Beaver Creek 71, Southwest Minnesota Christian 50

Westbrook-Walnut Grove 60, Edgerton 54

Pipestone Area 54, Redwood Valley 53

St. James Area 85, Windom 62

Sheldon 48, Harris-Lake Park 27

West Lyon 85, Central Lyon 40

Unity Christian 82, Okoboji 68

West Sioux 52, George-Little Rock 42

Western Christian 56, Fort Calhoun, Neb. 54

In area girls basketball Saturday, it was:

Westbrook-Walnut Grove 47, Murray County Central 39

DeSmet, S.D. 57, Hills-Beaver Creek 51 (OT)

Marshall 100, Hill-Murray 85

In area boys basketball Saturday:

Hills-Beaver Creek 62, Sully Buttes, S.D. 57

Willmar 80, Marshall 76

In area girls hockey Saturday:

Fairmont 6, Morris/Benson Area 0

Luverne 8, Princeton/Big Lake/Becker 0

In area boys hockey Saturday:

Albert Lea 9, Marshall 1