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MCW uses early surge to down Jaguars in Showcase clash

NORTHROP — Balanced overall scoring, synchronized first-half defense and solid second-half free throw shooting kept the Martin County West Mavericks perfect in the Valley Conference boys basketball standings on Friday night.

Wyatt Geistfeld produced stellar all-around numbers of 19 points, 10 rebounds, four blocked shots, four assists and three steals to help power Martin County West to a 67-54 Showcase triumph over the Truman/Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain Jaguars in Northrop.

While Geistfeld utilized his vertical leap to dominate inside the lane, Nick Beseke supplied the long-range artillery from the behind the 3-point arc to trigger the Mavericks’ 21-2 stampede out of the starting gate.

After Dawson Weber banked home a breakaway layup off Geistfeld’s steal-turned-assist and Beseke’s right-corner trifecta staked MCW to a quick 5-0 lead, Paxton Gravlin maneuvered through traffic in the low post to net two of his 13 points for the Jaguars at the 14:44 juncture of the first half.

Unfortunately for the Jaguars, the Mavericks erupted for a 16-0 offensive avalanche during a seven-minute span that would put the game nearly out of reach.

“That early stretch definitely was the difference in the ball game tonight,” said MCW head coach Cliff Anderson.

Beseke, who finished with 12 points, swooshed a left-wing 3 to serve as the catalyst behind the Mavericks’ double-digit scoring outburst before Angel Reyes converted Kolton Larson’s sideline steal into a layup.

Geistfeld pick-pocketed an errant Jaguars’ pass and nailed a pull-up 15-footer before squeezing between two low-post defenders for an odd-angled leaner.

Reyes, who netted 13 points to complement seven rebounds, weaved through the lane for a 6-foot runner, Geistfeld hit a solo free throw, and Reyes converted a perfect give-and-go from Zach Anderson into two more points. Geistfeld’s power post leaner off a Reyes assist capped the run at 21-2.

Owen Wolter, who topped the Jaguars with 14 points to complement four steals and five assists, finally ended the home team’s scoring drought with a right-wing 3-pointer off one of Adam Heckman’s five assists with 7:30 left in the first half.

Weber and Beseke later added two more 3s for the Mavericks before a Beseke steal created a breakaway basket for Reyes. Zach Anderson hit a low-post leaner with 12 seconds remaining in the first half to extend the Mavericks’ margin to 35-16, but Wolter split two MCW defenders and floated home a 17-footer at the buzzer to slice the Jaguars’ deficit to 17.

“You have to give them (the Jaguars) credit for the way they battled back during the second half,” said Cliff Anderson. “We need to learn not to become complacent with a lead, but were able to hit most of our free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.”

Matt Heckman, who came off the bench in the opening half, got the start in the second half and reeled off all 10 of his points — including a pair of 3s, to trigger the Jaguars’ improved performance during the final 18 minutes.

With Matt Heckman and Wolter equally combining for four second-half trifectas, the purple-and-white home team pulled within eight at 56-48 with 5:40 remaining in regulation, but that’s as close as they would get.

Zach Anderson sank 5 of 6 free throws during the final stretch of regulation to spearhead the Mavericks’ 13-for-18 effort at the line during the final 18 minutes.

Larson netted 11 points for the Mavericks, while Zach Anderson chipped in seven points.

Adam Heckman doled out five assists and pulled down a team-best nine rebounds for the Jaguars.

Martin County West (13-5, 11-0 Valley) faces Mankato Loyola at 6 p.m. tonight in the final Showcase game in Sherburn.

Truman/Martin Luther/ Granada-Huntley-East Chain (12-9, 6-4) plays Nicollet at 4:15 p.m. today in a Showcase contest in Sherburn.

MCW (67)

Geistfeld 7-12 5-8 19, Larson 3-8 4-6 11, Weber 2-4 0-0 5, Reyes 6-14 0-0 13, Beseke 4-8 0-0 12, Z. Anderson 1-3 5-6 7, Miller 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 23-51 14-20 67.

TMLGHEC (54)

A. Heckman 2-6 1-3 5, Gravlin 5-16 1-2 13, Fischer 0-0 0-0 0, I. Johnson 3-9 0-0 6, Wolter 5-12 0-0 14, M. Heckman 4-8 0-0 10, Spear 0-7 0-0 0, Jaskulke 3-4 0-0 6. Totals 22-62 2-5 54.

3-pointers: MCW 7-19 (Beseke 4-7, Weber 1-2, Larson 1-3, Reyes 1-6, Geistfeld 0-1); TMLGHEC 8-35 (Wolter 4-10, Gravlin 2-12, M. Heckman 2-6, Spear 0-3, I. Johnson 0-4). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: TMLGHEC 32 (A. Heckman 9); MCW 28 (Geistfeld 10). Assists: MCW 14 (Geistfeld 4); TMLGHEC 12 (Wolter and A. Heckman 5 each). Steals: MCW 11 (Geistfeld 3); TMLGHEC 5 (Wolter 4).

Fairmont 95, Windom Area 68 — Junior post player Wyatt Frank and junior guard Jack Hested combined to scorch the Windom gymnasium nets for 50 points to power the Cardinals to a 27-point Big South Conference rout of the Eagles on Friday night.

The 6-foot-7 Frank poured in a game-best 26 points and pulled down seven rebounds for Fairmont, while Hested drained eight 3-pointers to pace his 24-point performance.

Nick Eversman neared rare triple-double territory for Fairmont by scoring 14 points, distributing a game-best 10 assists and pulling down eight rebounds for the Cardinals.

Dustin Schultz contributed eight points and seven rebounds to Fairmont’s winning ways, Joey Flohrs scored eight points, while Pete Ortega chipped in seven points.

The Cardinals connected on 40 of 66 field goals overall, including 10 of 23 from 3-point range, and made 5 of 10 free throws on the night.

Fairmont held a 47-31 halftime advantage before outscoring Windom Area 48-37 in the final 18 minutes.

Eric Pfeffer netted 26 points to top the Eagles, while teammate Kobe Lovell delivered 21 points.

Fairmont (7-11) plays host to St. James Area at 6:30 p.m. tonight in a rescheduled game at Cardinal Gym.

Jackson Francis scored 17 points to steer Fairmont to a 64-53 win over Windom Area during B-squad action Friday.

Jackson Utermarck netted 14 points for the Cardinals, Tanner Rosch supplied 11 points, while Jacob Crissinger and Tony Ortega chipped in seven points apiece.

St. James Area 67, Blue Earth Area 55 — Parker Jones poured in a game-best 24 points and Carter Jones supplied 16 more to engineer the Saints’ 12-point Big South Conference win over the Bucs on Friday night in St. James.

Grant Strukel produced 11 points to top the Bucs’ scoring effort, Carter Bell tallied 10 points, Zach Herrmann and Austin Thielfoldt each netted nine points, while Cameron Anderson added eight points.

Blue Earth Area (8-10) plays host to New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva on Tuesday night.

St. James Area (14-3) travels to Fairmont tonight for a 6:30 p.m. contest.

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