BEA’s Caden Juba shoots the ball over a Maple River defender in a game played earlier in December. BEA defeated Sibley East 76-49 on Dec. 27.

The Blue Earth Area boys improved their season record to six wins and two losses when they triumphed over the Sibley East Wolverines 76-49 in Blue Earth on Saturday night, Dec. 27.

The score was close through the first six and a half minutes of the contest. With the teams tied at 17-17, Will Bromeland drained a three-pointer with 7:28 to play in the first half that gave the Bucs the lead for good at 20-17.

In fact, Bromeland’s three pointer ignited a 16-3 run that put them on top 33-20.

Following Bromeland’s basket, Ryder Dutton drove to the hoop for a basket and two more points. Three baskets from outside the arc, one by Sully Dahlberg and two more by Bromeland had the Maroon and Gold out front 31-19.

After a free throw by Sibley East’s Riley Bussler, Dahlberg scored off an offensive rebound to stake BEA to a 33-20 lead with just under four minutes to play until intermission.

The Bucs were leading 36-27 with the clock winding down to end the opening half when Bromeland hit a step-back three-pointer to give BEA a 39-27 lead at the half.

The Wolverines scored the first two points of the final 18 minutes but the Bucs scored the next 10.

A perfectly executed pick-and-roll by guard Caden Juba and center Peter Fletcher resulted in an easy basket for the big man. Dahlberg was able to get behind the Sibley East defense for two more easy points before Juba scored on two consecutive drives that pushed BEA’s lead to 47-29. Two free throws by Dahlberg gave the Bucs a 20-point lead with 14:15 remaining in the game.

BEA’s largest lead of the game came at the 4:07 mark when a Devin Haase to Fletcher pass led to an easy basket and a 31-point lead at 72-41.

Bromeland led all individuals in scoring with 26 points, including 18 points on 6-for-12 shooting from three-point range. Dahlberg finished with 25 points, Fletcher had eight, Juba tallied six and Dutton finished with five.

Dahlberg led BEA with 11 rebounds followed by Bromeland with seven and Fletcher with four.

Juba led the team is assists with 10.

The leading scorer for Sibley East was Will Feteri with 18 points. Jack Pomplun and Samuel Renneke each had six rebounds for the Wolverines.

The Bucs were 21-for-40 (52.5 percent) from inside the arch and 9-for-24 (37.5 percent) from beyond the arc. BEA shot 11 free throws and made seven (63.6 percent).

BEA scored 38 points in the paint compared to 20 for Sibley East.

The Wolverines held a 40-36 edge in rebounding. The Bucs committed 11 turnovers compared to 19 for their opponent.

The Bucs have home games on the first Monday and Tuesday of the new year. They will host Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial on Jan. 5 and Jackson County Central on Jan. 6.