Senior guard Lauren Schavey works to get around a defender from New Ulm in a recent game played in Blue Earth. The girls suffered a close loss on the road against Maple River. Their record is 2-3 overall and 1-2 in the Big South Conference.

The Blue Earth Area Buccaneers girls basketball team led the host Maple River Eagles for the majority of their contest on Tuesday, Feb. 2. However, a late rally by the Eagles sent the Buccaneers home with a 66-63 loss.

It was the highest offensive output of the year for the Maroon and Gold, who made 21 of their 50 shots taken from 2-point range. They converted 50 percent of their six attempts from outside of the arc and were 12 of 16 from the free-throw line.

The Eagles shot 47 percent on their 2-pointers and 41 percent on their 3-pointers, but they attempted 17 shots from outside of the arc compared to the Bucs’ six attempts.

Maple River went to the foul line 25 times and made 15 free throws.

BEA held a 37-28 edge in rebounding and turned the ball over 17 times compared to Maple River’s 15. The Eagles had 10 steals while the Bucs had four.

The score at half time showed BEA with a one-point lead at 31-30. Maple River outscored the Bucs 36-32 in the second half to gain the three-point victory.

Arika Howard was the leading scorer for the Bucs with 22 points. The senior guard made eight of her 16 shots from the field and added six free throws in seven attempts.

Eloise Blair also reached double figures with 10 points. McKenna Dutton tallied nine, Cali Beyer had eight, Sophie Keister finished with six while Téa Armstrong and Lauren Schavey each had four points.

Howard was the leading rebounder with nine, Blair had eight and Dutton had six.

The Bucs’ record now stands at 2-3. They were scheduled to travel to Waseca to take on the Bluejays on Friday, Feb. 5. They return home to take on Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial on Thursday, Feb. 11, and St. James Area on Friday, Feb. 12.