The West Central Area boys basketball team outscored the Oak Grove Grovers 35-16in the second half of Friday’s game at the Minnesota National Bank Classic Holiday Tournament in a 66-40 win.
“We always appreciate the opportunity to compete in this tournament,” West Central Area head coach Brian Kjesbo said. “Oak Grove is an aggressive and high-pressure team on both ends of the floor and it took us some time to gather ourselves on the offensive end. As we settled in we took better care of the basketball and our finishing improved.”
The Grovers were held to 24 percent shooting from the field and 14 percent from the 3-point line.
Senior Ben Bye had a double-double for the Knights with 29 points and 11 rebounds. He also had two blocks and two assists.
WCA’s Cash Nelson finished with 13 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Sam Hanson had nine points, nine rebounds, and four assists, while Isaac Allen finished with seven points, three rebounds, and three steals.
Senior Simon Moritz played solid minutes off the bench for WCA. He finished the game with four rebounds and two assists.
“Simon did a great job defensively,” Kjesbo said.
WCA (4-3) faces Pelican Rapids (7-0) in the Minnesota National Bank Championship game at 7:45 p.m. at Pelican Rapids High School on Saturday.
The WCA girls basketball team is also playing in the Minnesota National Bank Tournament. The WCA girls defeated Frazee, 55-39, on Friday. Stats for this game are currently unavailable.
The WCA girls play Oak Grove in the girls MNB Tournament Championship on Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
West Central Area – 31 35 – 66
Oak Grove – 24 16 – 40
Minnewaska girls thump Minneota
9th-ranked Minnewaska (Class 2A) dominated all facets of the game in its 70-48 win over Minneota (5-3) on Friday at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall.
Minnewaska (7-2) forced 33 turnovers in its win on Dec. 27, 2024.
Sydney Dahl led the Lakers with 12 points, while Jayda Kolstoe and Olivia Danielson each had 10.
Minnewaska hosts West Central Area at 7:15 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, 2024
Minneota (5-3) – 23 18 – 41
Minnewaska (7-2) – 48 22 – 70
MINNEOTA TEAM STATS – FIELD GOALS – 17/36; 3-POINTERS – 2/8; FREE THROWS – 5/10; ASSISTS – 5; BLOCKS – 2; REBOUNDS – 29; STEALS – 3; DEFLECTIONS – 1; FOULS – 8; TURNOVERS – 33
MINNEWASKA TEAM STATS – FIELD GOALS – 32/87; 3-POINTERS – 3/19; FREE THROWS – 3/8; ASSISTS – 10; BLOCKS – 3; REBOUNDS – 28; STEALS – 24; DEFLECTIONS – 28; FOULS – 15; TURNOVERS – 9
MINNEWASKA INDIVIDUAL STATS – Addy Kath – 9 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 3 steals, 5 deflections; Norah VanZee – 2 points; Alia Randt – 8 points, 1 assist, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 deflections; Berlynn Green – 2 points, 1 deflection; Eliana Marthaler – 1 rebound; Lauryn Ankeny – 8 points, 6 rebounds, 6 steals, 5 deflections; Olivia Danielson – 10 points, 4 assists, 1 block, 3 rebounds, 6 steals, 3 deflections; Sydney Dahl – 12 point, 1 assists, 1 block, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 4 blocks; Megan Thorfinnson – 7 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 3 deflections; Carly Jergenson – 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 deflection; Jayda Kolstoe – 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 deflections
Alex boys handle Maple Grove
The Alexandria boys basketball team defeated Maple Grove (3-4) 84-69 on Friday at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul at the Breakdown’s Capitol City Classic. Stats for this game are not yet available.
Alexandria (4-2), who is ranked No. 5 in Class 3A plays No. 3 Mankato East (6-1) at 1 p.m. on Saturday back at the Gangelhoff Center.
Alexandria and Mankato East have faced each other in each of the last two state tournaments. Alexandria defeated Mankato East
in the 2023 MSHSL Class 3A State Tournament quarterfinals but Mankato East beat Alexandria
in the 2024 MSHSL Class 3A State Tournament semifinals.
Sam Stuve covers a variety of sports in the Douglas County area. He also is assigned to do some news stories as well.
