TRIMONT — Blue Earth Area went on a 13-7 run in the final 5 minutes of regulation, but it was too little too late as the Martin County West Mavericks took a 48-45 nonconference basketball win Tuesday night in Trimont.

“We just had to keep our composure,” MCW head coach Cliff Anderson said. “We started to lose our composure as they (BEA) put more pressure on that we haven’t seen this year. We were able to find that composure again, and if you make a free throw and grab a rebound, that helps.”

MCW led 42-32 with 4:58 left before Cameron Anderson hit a 3 from the top of the key off a Austin Thielfoldt assist. Thielfoldt then hit a 3 from the right wing off a pass from Braden Gudahl before Gudahl pulled up for a left-wing 3 to close the gap to 44-41.

MCW’s Wyatt Geistfeld halted the run with a steal-turned-layup, but Caelan Sanders sank two free throws to get the Bucs back within three.

Sanders closed the gap to one when he took a Gavin Storbeck pass in the high left post and sank an 8-foot jumper with 1:02 left.

BEA missed its final three shots and Geistfeld sank two free throws and blocked the final desperation heave to close the game.

Geistfeld led the Mavericks with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while sophomore teammate Tanner Sinn totaled 13 points and nine boards.

Gudahl led BEA with nine points to complement six rebounds, Cameron Anderson collected eight points and eight rebounds and Sam Keister co-led the Bucs with eight boards.

Neither team got its offense started quickly, with the score sitting at 9-8 in favor of BEA with 10 minutes left in the first half.

Sinn and Mitch Weber then combined for 10 points in the final 10 minutes to lead MCW to a 25-19 halftime lead.

“Our effort was fantastic again,” Cliff Anderson said. “We beat a very high-quality, well-coached team tonight. They’re going to win a lot of games, we’re fortunate to win this one. Our kids battled through, even at the end when Blue Earth (Area) put the pressure on us, we somehow survived. We made enough free throws down the stretch.”

BEA was in foul trouble in both halves, putting the Mavericks in the bonus with 10:13 left in the first half and with seven minutes left in the second.

Zach Anderson took full advantage of the bonus, going to the charity stripe 10 times in total, including eight in the second half. Anderson sank all but one attempt, leading to his 11 points.

The Bucs tried to overcome the foul trouble by forcing turnovers. BEA combined for 13 steals en route to 21 MCW turnovers, but couldn’t take advantage on the offensive end.

BEA shot 14-for-62 overall, including 7 of 29 from 3. The Bucs also hit 10 of 17 free throws.

MCW was slightly more efficient, connecting on 17 of 49 shots from the field and 2 of 9 from 3. The Mavericks, powered by Anderson’s nine free throws, made 12 of 20 from the charity stripe.

“To have us come back at the end with a chance to still win, it was good to see,” BEA head coach Colby Swanson said. “Martin County West played really well and made it difficult for us to get good shots, especially in the paint. You’ve got to give credit to them for what they took away from us. Defensively I thought our performance was really good.”

BEA (1-1) plays Redwood Valley at 3 p.m. Saturday in Fairmont for the Big South Conference Showcase. MCW (3-0) travels to Pipestone for a 7:15 p.m. game Thursday.

BEA 19-26–45

MCW 25-23–48

B.E. AREA (45)

Braden Gudahl 3-6 0-2 9, Cameron Anderson 3-14 1-3 8, Grant Strukel 2-4 2-2 8, Austin Thielfoldt 2-6 2-4 7, Caelan Sanders 1-11 4-4 6, Sam Keister 1-8 0-0 2, Gavin Storbeck 1-2 0-0 2, Will Howard 1-4 0-0 2. Totals: 14-62 10-17 45.

MCW (48)

Wyatt Geistfeld 6-16 2-6 14, Tanner Sinn 6-9 1-4 13, Zach Anderson 1-5 9-10 11, Mitch Weber 2-5 0-0 4, Karson Janssen 1-4 0-0 3, Angel Reyes 1-9 0-0 3. Totals: 17-49 12-20 48.

3-pointers: BEA 7-29 (Gudahl 3); MCW 2-9. Fouled out: Strukel (BEA). Rebounds: BEA 42 (Cameron Anderson 8, Keister 8, Gudahl 6); MCW 33 (Geistfeld 10, Sinn 9, Zach Anderson 8). Assists: BEA 10 (Gudahl 3); MCW 6. Steals: BEA 13 (Thielfoldt 3, Zach Herrmann 3); MCW 8. Blocks: BEA 3; MCW 4 (Geistfeld 3).

Truman/Martin Luther/GHEC 73, Cedar Mountain 48 — The Jaguars erupted for 37 second-half points to transform a six-point lead at intermission into a 25-point non-league victory over the Cougars on Tuesday night.

Adam Heckman netted 15 points to top a balanced Jaguars’ scoring attack, while Matt Heckman (14), Owen Wolter (13) and Cayden Fischer (11) each reached double digits in points.

Cael Jaskulke and Carter Spear added even more offensive depth by netting nine and eight points, respectively.

Jaskulke neared a double-double performance by pulling down a team-best 12 rebounds, Matt Heckman garnered eight caroms, while Adam Heckman and Fischer grabbed five boards apiece.

Spear distributed six assists, Wolter doled out five helpers, while Fischer pocketed four steals.

The Jaguars blistered the nets on 21 of 36 shooting from 2-point distance, 7 of 18 behind the 3-point arc and 10 of 14 at the free throw line.

The Jaguars (4-0) play host to United South Central on Thursday night in Granada.

TMLG 36-37–73

CM 30-18–48

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Girls Basketball

Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther 73, Lyle/Austin Pacelli 36 — The Jaguars outscored the Athletics 34-15 during the second half to engineer a 37-point nonconference rout Tuesday night in Lyle.

Michaelah Petrowiak produced a double-double performance of 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Jaguars, while teammate Eden Studer scored a team-best 16 points to complement six boards.

Jayme Balcom collected stellar all-around numbers of 14 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five steals for the Jaguars.

The Jaguars made 30 of 72 field goals overall and 12 of 18 at the free throw line.

Olivia Christianson netted a game-best 20 points for the Athletics.

The Jaguars (3-2) travel to Janesville on Thursday night.

GTML 39-34–73

Lyle/Pac 21-15–36

St. Clair 55, Martin County West 38 — The Cyclones outscored the Mavericks by a 26-15 margin in the second half to pace a 17-point Valley Conference victory Tuesday night in Sherburn.

Emily Dunlop produced a double-double effort of 10 points and 10 rebounds to top MCW, while Sami Meyer supplied nine points and nine rebounds to near double-double territory.

Gabby Lange scored five points and grabbed six rebounds for the Mavericks, teammate Taylor Elliott generated five points and distributed three assists, while Marissa Whitehead added five points.

Martin County West made 13 of 38 field goals overall and 12 of 21 free throws on the game.

Martin County West (0-3) plays host to Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons on Thursday night in Sherburn.

St. Clair 29-26–55

MCW 23-15–38