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BEA downs GHEC, 70-47

By Staff | Jan 3, 2010

Nick Lee

The Blue Earth Area Bucs outscored the Granada-Huntley-East Chain Mustangs 32-9 over the last six minutes of the game to break a 38-38 tie and come away with a 70-47 win – gaining a spot in the championship game of the BEA Holiday Basketball Tourney.

It had been a back and forth contest throughout the first half as the Mustangs took a 28-27 lead into the locker room at half time.

Blue Earth Area scored 10 of the first 14 points in the second half, taking a 37-32 lead. But, six straight points by the Mustangs gave the visitors a 38-37 advantage. A Garrett Anderson free throw knotted the score at 38, before the Bucs took command.

“We had good shots in the first half but they didn’t go down,” comments Bucs Coach Gary Holmseth. “We were able to shoot better and cut down on our turnovers in the second half.”

Nick Lee got things going with a nifty pass to a streaking Jared Smith. Smith made a lay up to finish off the fast break and give the Bucs the lead for good. A Brady Anderson turn-around jumper made it 42-38.

Kole Kristenson, who led the Mustangs with 16 points, scored from close range to pull the visitors within two at 42-40.

An 8-0 run – which included a trey by Jared Smith and another transition lay up by Nick Lee – gave the Bucs a double digit lead at 50-40. The hosts continued to extend their lead with Nate Carr’s traditional three-point play, pushing the lead to 66-44 with 2:07 left in the game.

Four Bucs hit double figures in scoring. Lee led the way with 16 points, followed by Carr with 14, Riley Holmseth with 11 – including three treys – and Garrett Anderson with 10. Smith added eight points and Brady Anderson seven for the Bucs.

The Bucs out rebounded the Mustangs 34-31 with Lee pulling down 13 boards and Garrett Anderson adding 12.

Lee and Carr each had four steals.

JCC 66 USC 62

The Huskies of Jackson County Central fought off a determined USC Rebel squad to claim a 66-62 victory in game one of the BEA Holiday Basketball Tourney.

USC held the advantage in the early going as they took a 13-8 lead. JCC finally caught the Rebels, grabbing a 16-15 lead with eight minutes remaining in the first half.

The lead would change hands four times over the next four minutes, before the Huskies pulled away, taking a 31-22 lead.

Rebels center Kyle Bauman picked up his third foul with 1:36 on the clock, but the Rebels still managed to close the gap to only trail by four at half time, with JCC in front 32-28.

USC kept it close in the second half and finally regained the lead on a basket by Riley Swearingen with 7:20 left in the game. The Rebels were up 49-48.

Trevon Bargfrede got the lead back for the Huskies, but Bauman’s inside basket put the Rebels back on top, 51-50. It would be the last lead the Rebels would have, as Bauman picked up his fourth foul moments later at the 5:47 mark.

Bauman would sit for only a minute and a half, but the Huskies would begin to pull away. With 1:20 to go, the Huskies had upped their lead to 10 points at 62-52. The Rebels cut the lead to five points with 45 seconds remaining, and had opportunities to narrow the gap further as JCC had trouble at the free throw line. Their shots wouldn’t fall, however, and JCC prevailed to earn a spot in the championship game.

Swearingen and Bauman led the Rebels in scoring with 23 and 18 points respectively. The Huskies were paced by Ty Schwarting with 21 points and Bargfrede who tallied 15 points.