Huskies hand the Bucs a 65-30 loss

Blue Earth Area opened their season at home against the Jackson County Central Huskies on Thursday, Dec. 1. Above, Kate Armon goes in for a layup.
Blue Earth Area played host to Jackson County Central on Thursday, Dec. 1, in the opening game of the girls’ basketball season for both teams.
Although both teams got off to a slow start, it was the Huskies who would go home with a 65-30 win.
BEA’s Lola Lundquist scored the first points of the season when she popped a 3-pointer from the baseline.
At the other end of the court, the Huskies turned an offensive rebound into two points to get on the board and cut the Bucs’ lead to 3-2.
Three free throws by the visitors had BEA trailing 5-3 before Lundquist pulled up for a jumpshot that went through the nets to tie the score at 5-5 six minutes into the game.
The Bucs got into some early foul trouble and it was at this point a press by JCC began to reap rewards.
A combination of layups off of steals, free thows and a three pointer spurred the Huskies to a 14-0 over a three-minute span which allowed the visitors to go on top 19-5.
BEA’s scoring drought continued until Erika Gaydon sank a shot from outside of the arc with just over four minutes remaining in the first half. By that time JCC had added to their point total and held a 30-8 advantage over the Bucs.
Lundquist nailed another 3-pointer and Sophie Keister sank a turn-around jumper to give the Maroon and Gold five more points.
BEA closed out the first half with Kate Armon taking a pass from Lundquist and laying it in the hoop but the Bucs trailed the Huskies 40-15 at the intermission.
The Bucs’ woes on the defensive end of the court continued in the second half with the Huskies continued domination in securing rebounds.
BEA scored 15 points in the second half to match their first-half total making the final score 65-30 in the Huskies’ favor.
Lundquist led the Bucs in scoring with 11 points. Also reaching double figures was Keister who dropped in 10 points.
Next, BEA will participate in the Maple River Tournament which will be held on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 9-10.