Cameron Anderson soars to the basket as he goes in for a lay-up.

Cameron Anderson erupted for 25 points in the second half helping the Blue Earth Area Buccaneers rally from a 10-point deficit to defeat the Le Sueur-Henderson Giants by a score of 88-80.

The Bucs suffered some first half shooting woes but Caelan Sander’s slashing drives to the basket kept the hometown team within striking distance.

Trailing 27-17, Sanders scored six of the Maroon and Gold’s next eight points enabling the Bucs to cut the Giants’ lead to 32-25.

BEA still found themselves trailing by seven points early in the second half 41-33.

Anderson hit a short jumper only to have the Giants counter with a three-pointer on their end of the court.

Anderson found Austin Thielfoldt for an easy basket, then the sophomore forward stole the ball for a break-away lay-up.

Following a defensive stop by the Buccaneers, Anderson nailed a three-pointer from the left corner to cut the Giants’ lead to two points at 44-42.

The Giants added a free throw before Sanders drove the lane for another layup to pull BEA within one.

Sanders stole the ball and was going in for a lay-up when a flagrant foul was called on a Giant player for pulling Sanders to the floor.

Sanders made one of his two free throws to tie the game at 45-45 but LSH made a conventional 3-point play to jump out in front 48-45.

BEA still trailed by two points at 50-48 when Carter Bell’s shot from outside the arc burned the nets to put the home team up 51-50.

It was a lead they would not relinquish.

A drive and lay-up by Sanders, another bomb by Bell and a turn-around jumper by Anderson gave the Bucs a 59-50 lead and the Giants would get no closer than five points for the rest of the game.

“We came out the second half and shared the ball, made the extra pass and worked for the open shot,” BEA head coach Colby Swanson stated.

Anderson led all players with a career-best 36 points. He also had five rebounds and five steals for the Bucs.

“Cameron Anderson showed what he is capable of doing tonight,” Swanson added.

Sanders and Bell joined Anderson in reaching double figures in points. Sanders tallied 19 while Bell finished the game with 16.

Thielfoldt led the Bucs in rebounding with seven, followed by Sanders and Grant Strukel who each had six boards.

Thielfoldt also had seven assists and four steals for the Bucs.

BEA improves their overall record to 5-1 and 2-0 in the Big South Conference.

The Bucs played Waseca Friday, Dec. 21. Results of that contest will appear in next weeks edition of the Faribault County Register.