BLUE EARTH — Blue Earth Area freshman forward Caelan Sanders connected on 7 of 8 free throws to set the tone for the hometown Buc basketball team on Wednesday night in Blue Earth.

Caelan Sanders delivered a team-best 24 points as Blue Earth Area connected on 22 of 32 free throws for 69 percent to fend off the United South Central Rebels, 72-68, during the opening round of the Blue Earth Area Holiday Classic.

Blue Earth Area (2-4) advances to face the Class 2A, No. 4-ranked Jackson County Central Huskies (4-1) for the four-team invitational’s championship at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Blue Earth. The Huskies gained the finals via an 83-43 triumph over Truman/Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain.

USC (2-5) plays TMLGHEC (4-4) at 5:30 p.m. tonight for the consolation crown.

Forward Collin Bell contributed 13 points to the Bucs’ balanced scoring attack, while eighth-grade phenom Austin Thielfoldt and Joe Ritter contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively. Thielfoldt made 5 of 8 free throws down the stretch, while Ritter sank 5 of 7 charity tosses.

Jacob Vaske and Chris Sanders contributed six points apiece to the Bucs’ winning ways.

Ryan Kloos connected on six 3-pointers to erupt for a game-best 32 points to top the Rebels’ effort, while Justin Dallman chipped in 12 points.

USC, who made 12 of 18 at the stripe, held a narrow 35-32 halftime lead before Blue Earth Area utilized the free throw line to outpoint the Rebels 40-33 during the second half.

Jackson County Central 83, Truman/Martin Luther/GHEC 43 — Jacob Christopher netted 15 points to engineer a balanced offensive effort to power the Class 2A, No. 4-ranked Huskies to a 40-point first-round holiday classic victory over the Jaguars on Wednesday night in Blue Earth.

Rudy Voss connected for a pair of 3-pointers to highlight his 14-point performance for JCC, Nico Feroni delivered 13 points, while Chris Gumto produced 12 points.

The Huskies made 14 of 18 free throws for 78 percent on the game.

Zayne Engel produced 16 points to top the Jaguars’ effort, while teammate Mason Maloney netted nine points. Zach Wolter and Garrett Balcom added five points apiece.

The Jaguars connected on 7 of 12 free throws for 58 percent.

The Huskies built a 47-21 halftime lead before outscoring the Jaguars 36-22 during the final 18 minutes of regulation.

Girls Basketball

GHEC/Truman/Martin Luther 57, Jackson County Central 48 — Hanna Geistfeld unleashed a double-double performance to help power the Jaguars to a nine-point opening-round victory over the Huskies during the holiday classic on Wednesday in Blue Earth.

The Jaguars (8-1) advance to face host Blue Earth Area (4-4) for the holiday invitational’s championship at 3 p.m. today in Blue Earth.

The hometown Bucs edged United South Central, 38-28, to reach the tournament finals.

JCC (1-7) plays USC (2-5) at 1 p.m. today for the invite’s consolation crown in Blue Earth.

Geistfeld scored 15 points — all in the second half — and garnered a game-best 14 rebounds to complement three assists for the Jaguars.

Hannah Johanson netted a game-high 16 points, including 14 in the opening half, to go with three steals for the Jaguars.

Alexis Brummond tallied 10 points for the Jaguars, while Kenlie Pytleski delivered seven points, six rebounds, three blocked shots and three assists.

The Jaguars made 14 of 25 free throws and 19 of 54 field goals, including 5 of 15 from behind the 3-point arc.

Annika Lilleberg and Alaina Wolff each scored 15 points to top JCC, which hit 9 fo 14 free throws.

The Jaguars held a 27-22 halftime edge before outscoring the Huskies 30-26 during the final 18 minutes of regulation.

Blue Earth Area 38, United South Central 28 — Caitlin Rorman poured in a game-high 16 points to steer the hometown Bucs to a 10-point first-round holiday classic win over the Rebels on Wednesday in Blue Earth.

Reegan Howard contributed seven points to Blue Earth Area’s winning ways, while teammate Alissa Norman scored six points.

Kaylee Carlson tallied 11 points to pace the Rebels.

The Bucs built a 17-12 halftime lead during the defensive battle before outscoring the Rebels 21-16 in the second half.