Nick Lee gets up over a crowd of Buc and Husky players in order to take a shot.

The Mustangs of Granada-Huntley-East Chain left no doubt as to which team was the best in the 15th annual Blue Earth Area Holiday Basketball Tourney – while the host Bucs continued to struggle as they head into the new year.

USC 70, JCC 58

Opening night action featured the United South Central Rebels against the Jackson County Central Huskies. The Rebels opened up a 36-22 halftime lead and then watched the Huskies mount a furious second half comeback to cut the lead to one point at 50-49 with just under five minutes remaining in the game.

Rebels guard Riley Stenzel connected from behind the arc and 6-foot-6 freshman center Kyle Bauman added a basket to push the margin back to six points.

The Huskies kept up the pressure and following a steal and lay up by Nathan Brandt the Huskies were only down by 3 at 59-56 with just under 2:30 remaining.

Once again it was Stenzel and Bauman who responded for the Rebels. Stenzel was fouled as he made a layup and sank the free throw for a traditional 3-point play. Bauman hauled in a full-court pass and took it in for an easy two to put the margin back to eight points at 64-56. The Rebels pushed it to a final score of 70-58.

GHEC 79, BEA 45

Game two of opening night action featured the Mustangs, ranked number two in class A, taking on the home town Bucs.

A 14-0 run by the Mustangs, fueled by 6-foot-5 center Tim Garry’s eight points, saw their 9-7 lead turn into a 23-7 advantage.

The Bucs could come no closer than 11 points as the Mustangs dominated in all phases of the game, taking a 42-26 lead into the half. Nick Lee picked up his third foul with 7:41 to go in the opening half to add to the Buc’s woes.

The Mustangs showed themselves to be a solid team as they could hurt the opponent in a variety of ways. They were quick as they transitioned from defense to offense and could get easy lay ups, pound the ball inside, drive and score or drive and dish, step out for the 3-pointer and could play tough defense.

They were quick and they were aggressive and looked like a team that should be headed deep into post season play.

The second half started with the Mustangs scoring the first 14 points to open a 56-26 lead on their way to a 79-45 victory.

Garry led the Mustangs with 26 points followed by Tyler Harder with 18, and Marcus Teachout and Jordan Larson with ten each. The Mustangs hit 23 conventional field goals, six 3-pointers, and were 15 of 30 in free throws.

Lee and Garrett Anderson tallied 13 points each for the Bucs, followed by Nate Carr with 10. The Bucs made 19 field goals, one 3-pointer, and were 4 of 13 from the free throw line.

JCC 51, BEA 48

The Huskies and the Bucs faced off for the third place game on Tuesday night with both teams looking to get back in the win column.

A strong start by the Huskies included a 3-pointer and two buckets off of offensive rebounds which put the Bucs down 9-0.

Garrett Anderson’s offensive rebound and bucket got the Bucs on the board 2:30 into the game. Following another bucket for the Huskies off of an offensive rebound, Anderson hit a little jump hook and Charlie Garlick scored off an inbounds play to make it 11-6 Huskies.

It was 15-7 in favor of the Huskies when Riley Holmseth hit on consecutive shots from behind the arc to pull the Bucs within two at 15-13.

Trevon Bargfrede of the Huskies converted another offensive rebound for a bucket, Alex Hohenstein added a bucket and a foul shot and Nathan Brandt hit a 3-point shot to give the Huskies a 10 point lead at 23-13.

Play throughout the rest of the half was pretty even as the score at half time was 34-23 in favor of the Huskies.

JCC maintained an eight to 12 point lead through the first seven minutes of the second half.

Trailing 44-35 the Bucs put together a 9-4 run that started when Lee snatched an offensive rebound an put it in for a basket. Next it was Anderson down low for two more followed by Holmseth’s third three of the night.

Lee capped off the run as he put back another offensive rebound as the Bucs pulled to within four points, trailing 48-44 with 2:52 left in the game.

The Huskies pushed the lead back to six on a bucket by Bargfrede and Bucs failed to score on their next possession. However Anderson stole the ball as JCC tried to clear after getting the rebound and his subsequent basket got the Bucs within four at 50-46.

Time was running out for the Bucs as they were forced to foul. Although the Huskies could make only one of two free throws with 5.4 seconds remaining, there was only time for Lee to go in for an uncontested lay up as the game ended in a 51-48 JCC victory.

Anderson led the Bucs with 16 points, Lee was right behind with 15 points and Holmseth finished with three 3s to score nine points.

Brandt led the Huskies with 18 points, nine coming off of 3-pointers, while Patrick Garvin added 12 points.

After a slow start, the Bucs out rebounded the Huskies 27-24, including 14 offensive boards. The Bucs committed 18 turnovers against 14 committed by JCC.

Neither team did well at the free throw line as the Bucs hit 1 of 5 and the Huskies only made 3 of 12.

Championship Game GHEC 71 USC 41

Much like their game against Blue Earth Area, the Mustangs showed the ability to shut down their opponents’ offense while their own offense scored points in bunches.

Leading 9-6 just over four minutes into the game, the Mustangs put together a 10-0 run to grab a 19-6 lead. Six of the 10 points were scored on lay ups as the Mustangs defensive pressure forced turnovers that resulted in easy baskets.

The Mustangs continued to stretch the lead and had it up to 19 points until the Rebel’s Jake Sonnek hit two free throws to end the first half scoring with the Mustangs up 39-22.

Riley Swearingen of the Rebels got the first bucket in the second half to cut the margin to 15 points but that is as close as the score would get as the Mustangs continued to pressure the Rebels into mistakes.

Executing pick and rolls, give and gos, and displaying their speed in the transition game, GHEC pushed the lead to 69-37 with 3:15 left in the game before the reserves came in to finish up.

Leading scorers for the Mustangs were Tim Garry with 17 points, Taylor Nawrocki with 14 and Tanner Nawrocki with 10. The Rebels were led by Sonnek’s 12 points while Swearingen and Riley Stenzel each finished with nine.

It was 15-7 in favor of the Huskies when Riley Holmseth hit on consecutive shots from behind the arc to pull the Bucs within two at 15-13.

Trevon Bargfrede of the Huskies converted another offensive rebound for a bucket, Alex Hohenstein added a bucket and a foul shot and Nathan Brandt hit a 3-point shot to give the Huskies a 10 point lead at 23-13.

Play throughout the rest of the half was pretty even as the score at half time was 34-23 in favor of the Huskies.

JCC maintained an eight to 12 point lead through the first seven minutes of the second half.

Trailing 44-35 the Bucs put together a 9-4 run that started when Lee snatched an offensive rebound an put it in for a basket. Next it was Anderson down low for two more followed by Holmseth’s third three of the night.

Lee capped off the run as he put back another offensive rebound as the Bucs pulled to within four points, trailing 48-44 with 2:52 left in the game.

The Huskies pushed the lead back to six on a bucket by Bargfrede and Bucs failed to score on their next possession. However Anderson stole the ball as JCC tried to clear after getting the rebound and his subsequent basket got the Bucs within four at 50-46.

Time was running out for the Bucs as they were forced to foul. Although the Huskies could make only one of two free throws with 5.4 seconds remaining, there was only time for Lee to go in for an uncontested lay up as the game ended in a 51-48 JCC victory.

Anderson led the Bucs with 16 points, Lee was right behind with 15 points and Holmseth finished with three 3-pointers to score nine points.

Brandt led the Huskies with 18 points, nine coming off of 3-pointers, while Patrick Garvin added 12 points.

After a slow start, the Bucs out rebounded the Huskies 27-24, including 14 offensive boards. The Bucs committed 18 turnovers against 14 committed by JCC.

Neither team did well at the free throw line as the Bucs hit 1 of 5 and the Huskies only made 3 of 12.

Championship Game

GHEC 71, USC 41

Much like their game against Blue Earth Area, the Mustangs showed the ability to shut down their opponents’ offense while their own offense scored points in bunches.

Leading 9-6 just over four minutes into the game, the Mustangs put together a 10-0 run to grab a 19-6 lead. Six of the 10 points were scored on lay ups as the Mustangs defensive pressure forced turnovers that resulted in easy baskets.

The Mustangs continued to stretch the lead and had it up to 19 points until the Rebel’s Jake Sonnek hit two free throws to end the first half scoring with the Mustangs up 39-22.

Riley Swearingen of the Rebels got the first bucket in the second half to cut the margin to 15 points but that is as close as the score would get as the Mustangs continued to pressure the Rebels into mistakes.

Executing pick and rolls, give and gos, and displaying their speed in the transition game, GHEC pushed the lead to 69-37 with 3:15 left in the game before the reserves came in to finish up.

Leading scorers for the Mustangs were Tim Garry with 17 points, Taylor Nawrocki with 14 and Tanner Nawrocki with 10. The Rebels were led by Sonnek’s 12 points while Swearingen and Riley Stenzel each finished with nine.