Gage Barker, shown here going in for a layup against Maple River earlier this season, scored 11 points in BEA’s season-ending loss to Waseca.

The Blue Earth Area Bucs played even with the Waseca Bluejays during the first 11 minutes of their March 5 Section 2AA Sub-Section playoff game before the Bluejays, playing at home, pulled away for a 92-53 victory.

BEA had a 5-2 lead in the opening minutes of the contest.

Even after the hometown Bluejays sank consecutive 3-pointers to take an 8-5 lead over the Bucs, the Maroon and Gold responded with 3-pointers from Taylor Davids and Gage Barker and a 2-pointer from Max Loge to go back on top 13-8 with just under 11 and a half minutes to play in the first half.

BEA would maintain their lead until there were seven minutes remaining in the opening stanza when Waseca tied the game at 20-20.

The Bluejays outscored the Bucs 24-6 during the remainder of the opening half and outscored BEA 48-27 during the final 18 minutes of the game to advance to the next round of the playoffs against Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton, who defeated Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 84-53 in their opening playoff game.

Senior Max Loge, in his final game on the hardcourt in a BEA uniform, led the Bucs with 17 points. Gage Barker tallied 11 points while Sully Dahlberg finished with nine.

Loge and Dahlberg each had seven rebounds and Barker led the team in assists with five.

As a team, BEA made 13 of 33 (39 percent) of their 2-point attempts and seven of their 16 (44 percent) 3-point attempts. The Bucs shot 10 free throws and made six (60 percent).

Waseca had 40 rebounds to 25 for BEA. The Bucs committed 15 turnovers to only four for the Bluejays.

In addition to Loge, other seniors on the team are Taylor Davids and Noah Dahl.

BEA ends their season with an overall record of 11-14.

WEM 69, BEA 60

The last basketball game of the regular season for the Blue Earth Area Buccaneer boys was played on Thursday, Feb. 29, when they traveled to Waterville to battle the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers.

Leading 33-29 at the beginning of the second half, BEA was unable to halt a WEM rally and the WEM Bucs triumphed over the BEA Bucs 69-60.

The fast-paced contest did not see any player from either team go to the free-throw line until there was just under 16 minutes remaining in the game.

BEA’s halftime lead did not last long. WEM’s Jasper Morris sank two shots in the opening minute of the second stanza to tie the score at 33-33.

The home team then moved out in front when Gavin Brown sank one of his seven 3-pointers for the night to give WEM a 36-33 lead.

BEA’s Sully Dahlberg connected on one of his six baskets from outside the arc to tie the game at 36 all.

The two teams then traded 3-pointers with Brown sinking another one for WEM only to have BEA’s Gage Barker do the same for the visitors to tie the score at 39-39.

The Maroon and Gold momentarily regained the lead when Dahlberg hit his sixth 3-pointer of the night to put BEA on top 42-39.

A drive and a basket by Brown and two free throws by Morris gave WEM the lead for good at 43-42 with 15:51 remaining in the game.

BEA kept the game close until WEM pulled away with 3:23 left to play and increased their advantage to 10 points at 60-50.

BEA knocked their deficit down to six points with 1:49 left in the game but that is as close as they would get and WEM secured the 69-60 victory.

The final statistics showed BEA making 11 of 26 (42 percent) 2-point attempts and 12 of 34 (35 percent) of their 3-point attempts. BEA made both of their free-throw attempts.

WEM was 18-for-34 (53 percent) from inside the arc and 9-for-24 (38 percent) from outside the arc. WEM went to the free-throw line seven times and made six of their shots (86 percent).

WEM won the battle of the boards by a 38-27 margin while BEA committed eight turnovers to 11 for WEM.

Dahlberg led BEA with 18 points followed by Barker with 14, Loge with 12 and Jacob Grandgenett with 10.

Loge led BEA with 10 rebounds and six assists.

Brown led WEM with 27 points followed by Morris and Taylen Taylor with 14 each. Taylor was the leading rebounder for WEM with 15.

BEA ended their regular season with a record of 11 wins and 13 losses.