MANKATO — Truman/Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain post player Zayne Engel delivered a game-high double-double performance to power the No. 5-seeded Jaguars to a 73-58 basketball playoff triumph over the No. 4-seeded Mankato Loyola Crusaders on Monday night in Mankato.

The Jaguars (16-11) advance to face No. 1-seeded Springfield (25-2) in a 6 p.m. Section 2A, South Sub-Section semifinal on Thursday night in Lake Crystal. The Tigers gained the next round via a 94-60 sub-section quarterfinal rout over No. 8-seeded Nicollet.

Mankato Loyola ended its season with a 12-14 record.

Engel produced 31 points and garnered 14 rebounds, while teammate Derek Shoen generated a double-double of 19 points and 11 boards to complement doling out four assists for the Jaguars.

Mason Maloney neared double-double territory for the Jaguars by scoring 11 points and grabbing nine rebounds, while teammate Garrett Balcom chipped in seven points, seven rebounds, a game-best five assists and three steals.

The Jaguars blistered the Mankato gymnasium’s nets by connecting on 27 of 37 shots from 2-point distance for 73 percent on the playoff clash. The Jaguars also made 2 of 6 from 3-point range and 13 of 19 at the free throw line.

Zan Raverty drained 11 of 14 free throws to pace his 18-point performance to top the Crusaders and doled out three assists. Ben Ellingworth and Hunter Westman each supplied 11 points for Loyola, while teammate Sheldon Price tallied eight points and pulled down eight rebounds.

Loyola made 11 of 31 shots from 2-point distance, 7 of 22 behind the 3-point arc and 17 of 24 at the free throw line.

TMLGHEC 34-39–73

Loyola 22-36–58

Section 2AA Playoffs

New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva 64, Blue Earth Area 30 — Benji Lundberg produced game-bests of 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists to power the No. 2-seeded Panthers to a 34-point postseason victory over the No. 7-seeded Bucs on Monday night in New Richland.

NRHEG (25-2) advances to face No. 3-seeded Maple River (18-7) in a 7:45 p.m. Section 2AA, South Sub-Section semifinal game on Thursday night at Mankato East High School. The Eagles reached the next round via a 66-57 victory over No. 6-seeded Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial.

Blue Earth Area ended its season with a 5-19 record.

Tyler Raimann delivered 13 points and six rebounds for NRHEG, Chad Agrimson notched 12 points and five boards, Jason Jongbloedt chipped in eight points, while Oakley Baker tallied seven.

Blake Barnett topped the Bucs with eight points, while teammates Jacob Vaske and Austin Thielfoldt contributed seven points apiece.

BE Area 14-16–30

NRHEG 34-30–64